Embalming in France : Everything to know

In certain circumstances, it is necessary to supplement the post-mortem care with preservation treatments, also called "embalming."

Preservation treatments differ from post-mortem care as they aim to slow down, through the use of chemicals, the natural mechanisms that occur following a person's death. Embalming is carried out with respect for the dignity of the deceased person (Art. R. 2223-132 of the General Code of Local Authorities).

From the moment of death, the deceased's body undergoes transformations due to the cessation of all vital activity. It is then necessary to limit these so-called thanatomorphosis processes. To do this, embalming must be administered. It's applied in addition to post-mortem care, which is an essential step for mourning, but not mandatory.

In the past, embalming was a widespread and necessary practice in ancient Egypt. Nowadays, methods have evolved and are more or less invasive. Indeed, preserving a body can range from simply controlling the temperature to using chemical products.

Thanatopraxy

What do preservation treatments consist of?

Thanatopraxy involves invasive post-mortem procedures aimed at temporarily suspending the decomposition process of the body (source: Afif).

After washing the body, the practitioner must ensure that no obstacles (foreign bodies) will obstruct the treatments. The law only allows a doctor and a thanatopractor to perform the explantation of a prosthesis and a battery stimulator (defibrillator, pacemaker, etc.). It is also mandatory to declare the treatments to the city hall where they will be performed.

Embalming must be carried out by a doctor or a qualified professional called a thanatopractor. Indeed, proper equipment and handling are required and cannot be mastered by just anyone. The practice of this type of preservation treatment involves puncturing physiological fluids and injecting an arterial solution based on formaldehyde for preservation purposes.

For thanatopraxy, an authorization must be obtained after a request to the city hall, including:

• the practitioner's name

• their qualification

• the product to be used

These practitioners will be called to the home if the death occurred there. Certain sanitary precautions are mandatory (medical bed or treatment table for support, a room separate from the rest of the dwelling, minimum ventilation, which can be completely cleaned and sterilized…)

In which cases is it advisable to perform preservation treatments?

Preservation treatments are generally not mandatory, but they can be strongly recommended in specific cases. Here are some examples:

• the death occurred at home, or the family wishes to keep the deceased at home until the day of the funeral

• the deceased died following a long illness requiring heavy chemical treatment, such as cancer, requiring chemotherapy

Case of a death or maintenance at home

In cases where the death occurred at home, or, if the family wishes to keep the deceased at home until the day of the funeral, it is recommended to perform preservation treatments. Indeed, since the body will not be kept in a cold room, it will remain at room temperature and the degradation process will begin.

To slow down this process, and to ensure that the deceased is presentable for a final farewell on the day of the funeral, it is recommended to carry out preservation treatments as quickly as possible.

Case of death following a disease requiring chemical treatment, such as cancer for example

In cases where the deceased died following a disease requiring treatment, such as chemotherapy for example, it is also advisable to perform preservation treatments quickly. Chemical products that the body could tolerate to a certain extent while alive will no longer be controlled or eliminated from the body and can cause yellowing of the skin, for example.

In this case, it is also recommended to perform preservation treatments as quickly as possible to ensure the deceased is presentable for mourning on the day of the funeral.

In which cases is it obligatory to perform preservation treatments?

Body repatriation abroad

If the family wishes to repatriate the deceased's body abroad, certain institutions, such as airlines and the legislation of foreign countries, may require preservation treatments. Advitam can advise you for these specific cases.

Transfer of the deceased for a period longer than 2 hours

For the transfer of the deceased lasting more than 2 hours, and, if the coffin is less than 18 millimeters thick, preservation treatments are also required (cf. Law from 2017).

On the other hand, there are "transmissible diseases that require immediate burial in a hermetic coffin," for which the law does not allow any damage to the body. In addition to these health safety measures, if there is a medical-legal obstacle or death in a professional setting, there is no obligation.

Alternatives to thanatopraxy: cold preservation method

Cold preservation is another preservation method that takes two forms: through dry ice or using refrigeration equipment. Neither requires any particular precautions, apart from mobilizing specific equipment.

Refrigeration equipment

The most common method is placing the body in a refrigerated cell or on a refrigerated table. This is a traditional ecological practice. It is almost automatic because most care facilities have this equipment, including funeral parlors and some nursing homes.

Dry ice

Professionals may offer another method that requires renewal after 24 hours. This method, called dry ice, involves placing dry ice in contact with the deceased's body to lower the body temperature to -78°C (approximately -108°F).

It is possible to combine both methods (cold + formaldehyde), but the dry ice method never combines with chemical injections.

Religion

Some religions do not tolerate such violations of a deceased person's body:

• Islam

• Judaism

• Hinduism

Exceptions are made when repatriation is necessary, but the principle of thanatopraxy contradicts the respect for the deceased's bodily integrity and its religious symbolism.