Guidelines for Handling Decedents Contaminated with Radioactive Materials

Detonation of a nuclear weapon or activation of a radiological dispersal device could cause radioactively contaminated decedents. These guidelines are designed to address both of these scenarios. They could also be applicable in other instances where decedents ’ bodies are contaminated with radioactive material (e.g. reactor accidents, transportation accidents involving radioactive material, or the discharge of a decedent from a hospital after injection or implantation of a radiopharmaceutical). These guidelines suggest ways for medical examiners, coroners, and funeral directors to deal with loose surface contamination, internal contamination, or shrapnel on or in decedents’ bodies