Form 7: Certificate of medical practitioner

This form must be completed by the medical practitioner who attended the deceased prior to death. This form has been amended and must be used from 1 July 2008.

» Download Form 7 PDF version (50KB)  |   Form 7 Word version (200KB)

What has changed

There is an additional section entitled "Safety of cremation", which addresses factors which may make cremation unsafe.

1. Cardiac pacemakers

Cardiac pacemakers must be removed prior to cremation, as the devices can explode in the cremator. Funeral directors will generally remove pacemakers.

2. Radioactive therapeutic implants and/or injections

Recent treatment with certain radioactive therapeutic implants and/or injections must be identified. In some circumstances the radioactive material may be too active for cremation to be permitted unless the implant tissue is first excised. This is particularly relevant to I-125 seeds inserted to treat prostate cancer.

In other circumstances, cremation may go ahead but particular precautions may be required for the crematorium workers. Additionally, the ashes may be too radioactive to be immediately released to the family.
» Risk assessment requirements for radioactive therapeutic implants and/or injections

A risk assessment of the safety of cremation and handling of ashes must be made by the medical institution which administered the radioactive treatment to the deceased. A written radiation safety certificate may be required.
» Contact details of treating institutions

3. Any other factor which may make cremation unsafe

This may include other radioisotopes, not listed above, used in clinical trials.