Recently, FSAC updated members on a recent media release relating to the American Association of Physicists in Medicine and radiation protection guideline. We felt it was important to keep funeral service professionals informed about the latest unfolding news cycle in relation to the topic as the release has often been referenced to within Canadian media sources.

As members are aware, in Canada, Radiation Protection Guidelines for Safe Handling of Decedents provides guidance and recommended practices for minimizing radiation dose to death-care professionals and other members of the public who may encounter a decedent with residual nuclear substances from therapeutic medical procedures.

The CNSC does not regulate the safe handling of decedents. The CNSC publishes the Guidelines in accordance with its mandate to disseminate objective scientific and technical information. REGDOC-2.73 was also created in response to a growing number of requests from cancer treatment centres and death-care professionals for advice on handling decedents that contain nuclear substances. It does not purport to, and could not, regulate in this area, and readers are encouraged to consult applicable provincial law in this regard.

Legislation in Ontario and Saskatchewan prohibit cremation of human remains that have received radioactive implants.

Please refer to the most up-to-date information on the CNSC website.

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