2/20/75 B

Conducts a program to provide dead human bodies for scientific study under the general direction of the Chief Medical Examiner.

The duties involve planning and performing the details of collecting, transporting, embalming, storing and delivering bodies for use in the advancement of medical education and scientific study. In accordance with State Statutes pertaining to the use of dead bodies for scientific study, a wide degree of latitude is exercised in accepting human remains, authorizing the use of bodies, and explaining sections of the Code of Virginia to hospitals, funeral directors, State agencies, or others having unclaimed bodies for the purpose of medical education or research. Responsibility is involved for maintaining adequate records of the receipt and disposition of bodies, approving expenditures related to costs of transporting or embalming bodies, and the cremation and burial of remains not used. General guidance is received from the Chief Medical Examiner who establishes broad policy and reviews periodic activity reports.

Examples of duties characteristic of positions in this class:

1. Receives notice of unclaimed dead bodies or those to be buried

at pub1ic expense and determines whether or not to collect the

remains for use in medical education and scientific study;

arranges for the transport and storage of bodies and obtains

removal permits and files death certificates with the local

authorities.

2. Maintains records on each body received to indicate name, date

received, identifying number, condition, and disposition;

programs periodic reports of activity for review by the Chief

Medical Examiner.

3. Embalms bodies using special techniques to preserve remains for

educational and research purposes; stores and removes bodies from

vats; supervises and performs periodic cleaning of vats and

replenishes preservative solutions.

4. Cremates human remains unsuitab1e for medical education and

scientific study or those for which the use for scientific study

has been completed; arranges for the burial of ashes in

cemeteries and funeral services.

5. Communicates by telephone and correspondence with hospitals,

funeral directors, and State agencies relative to unclaimed and

donated bodies, or with persons who subsequently decide to claim

remains, to explain pertinent sections of the Virginia Code and

procedures for collecting, transporting, embalming or other

aspects of the anatomical program.

6. Assists the professional staff in the Chief Medical Examiner’s

office in conducting medical-legal workshops, and extention

education projects for the State Police and other law enforcement

agencies.

Graduation from high school and three years of experience as an embalmer and/or funeral director. Eligibility for licensing as an embalmer in the State.

Considerable knowledge of the techniques and practices of embalming, cremation and preservation procedures for human bodies; good knowledge of anatomy and disection techniques for removing heads or extremities; ability to explain and apply statutes pertaining to the use of human bodies for scientific study; ability to establish and maintain good public relations.