Case Study Grandpa Joe's Death
Decision
The central ethical issue is should Judith follow the informal stated wishes of Grandpa Joe or opt for a lesser environmental impact body disposal choice? After researching and analyzing this case I have come up with the decision that Judith should give her Grandpa Joe a green burial. During my research, I have found many reasons why green burial is the wises decision for Judith to make. First reason, traditional burials and doing as Grandpa Joe wished to be buried would be too costly. The article State Funeral Regulations states, "Empirical studies find that state funeral regulations can increase consumer costs directly, by limiting competition or raising production costs or indirectly by facilitating funeral directors’ efforts …show more content…
to sell more expensive packages of services."(Ellig,"State Funeral Regulations: Inside The Black Box.") Since that Grandpa Joe only had a modest life insurance policy and a moderate estate, there would be no way that Judith could have afforded to do so.
Second reason, Judith should choose a green burial is that she is a pragmatic woman and is concerned about the environment.
In the article, Planning for the Disposal of the Dead, it states, “the burial process as a means of facilitating the acquisition, restoration and stewardship of natural areas." (Basmajian, "Planning For The Disposal Of The Dead.")This means that a green burial restores and preserves valuable nature the living needs to survive. Judith is not thinking about herself in this decision she is thinking about all the stakeholders involved.
Third reason, Judith should choose a green burial is because Grandpa Joe did not formal write a letter stating how he wanted to be buried. In the article, Letting the Dead Bury the Dead, it states, "Minnesota’s provisions are unusual in allowing someone to dictate the means and place of burial by any written instruction." This is exactly why Judith does not have to follow her grandpa's offhandedly mention burial wishes. She already does not believe in meeting the dead's request, and this gives her the right to do as she pleases. (Naguit, "Letting The Dead Bury The Dead.") …show more content…
Evaluation
Out of my four option on what Judith should do for her Grandpa Joe's funeral, I chose green burial, but the other three options have valued reasons to have been chosen. Option two give Grandpa Joe a traditional burial; this option would have been a valued choice because it would have partially covered what Grandpa Joe's funeral wishes were. He would have got to be buried in a casket. Option three let Grandpa Joe be cremated; this option would let Grandpa Joe and his wife to be disposed of the same way. This would have allowed the Grippen family to scatter their remains in the same place or scatter Grandpa Joe in his favorite place. Option four give Grandpa Joe exactly as he would have wanted, this would have been a valued choice because Grandpa Joe would have got his dying wishes. He would have got his casket and been buried next to his ancestors. He would have got his prize possessions buried with him. Judith would not have to put so much thought into what she should do for her grandpa's funeral arrangements.
Choosing a green burial for Grandpa Joe's funeral was the best decision, but it does have a couple of objections to it.
First, it goes against her Grandpa Joe's burial wishes to be buried with his ancestors. Second, he would not get the same burial as his wife. Grandpa Joe's wife Ellen was cremated several years ago. Three, some green burial cemeteries do not allow family to mark the grave site. This would make it hard for the Grippen family member to visit their beloved Grandpa Joe grave site. Not every option is the perfect option; some have negatives to it, but you have to choose the one that best fits the
situation.
Reflection
This assignment has made me realize that I am simple minded. I do not think in depth about situations or problem and why it happened or how to solve it. This assignment has helped me understand to stop and think about a situation. I have learned that I absolutely hate doing research papers. I do not like the process in trying to find an article that will relate to my paper's topic. I hope to improve the why I do research on papers in other upcoming college classes. This assignment has also helped me learn more about the career path I am wanting to pursue.
The central ethical issue is should Judith follow the informal stated wishes of Grandpa Joe or opt for a lesser environmental impact body disposal choice? After researching and analyzing this case I have come up with the decision that Judith should give her Grandpa Joe a green burial. During my research, I have found many reasons why green burial is the wises decision for Judith to make. First reason, traditional burials and doing as Grandpa Joe wished to be buried would be too costly. The article State Funeral Regulations states, "Empirical studies find that state funeral regulations can increase consumer costs directly, by limiting competition or raising production costs or indirectly by facilitating funeral directors’ efforts …show more content…
to sell more expensive packages of services."(Ellig,"State Funeral Regulations: Inside The Black Box.") Since that Grandpa Joe only had a modest life insurance policy and a moderate estate, there would be no way that Judith could have afforded to do so.
Second reason, Judith should choose a green burial is that she is a pragmatic woman and is concerned about the environment.
In the article, Planning for the Disposal of the Dead, it states, “the burial process as a means of facilitating the acquisition, restoration and stewardship of natural areas." (Basmajian, "Planning For The Disposal Of The Dead.")This means that a green burial restores and preserves valuable nature the living needs to survive. Judith is not thinking about herself in this decision she is thinking about all the stakeholders involved.
Third reason, Judith should choose a green burial is because Grandpa Joe did not formal write a letter stating how he wanted to be buried. In the article, Letting the Dead Bury the Dead, it states, "Minnesota’s provisions are unusual in allowing someone to dictate the means and place of burial by any written instruction." This is exactly why Judith does not have to follow her grandpa's offhandedly mention burial wishes. She already does not believe in meeting the dead's request, and this gives her the right to do as she pleases. (Naguit, "Letting The Dead Bury The Dead.") …show more content…
Evaluation
Out of my four option on what Judith should do for her Grandpa Joe's funeral, I chose green burial, but the other three options have valued reasons to have been chosen. Option two give Grandpa Joe a traditional burial; this option would have been a valued choice because it would have partially covered what Grandpa Joe's funeral wishes were. He would have got to be buried in a casket. Option three let Grandpa Joe be cremated; this option would let Grandpa Joe and his wife to be disposed of the same way. This would have allowed the Grippen family to scatter their remains in the same place or scatter Grandpa Joe in his favorite place. Option four give Grandpa Joe exactly as he would have wanted, this would have been a valued choice because Grandpa Joe would have got his dying wishes. He would have got his casket and been buried next to his ancestors. He would have got his prize possessions buried with him. Judith would not have to put so much thought into what she should do for her grandpa's funeral arrangements.
Choosing a green burial for Grandpa Joe's funeral was the best decision, but it does have a couple of objections to it.
First, it goes against her Grandpa Joe's burial wishes to be buried with his ancestors. Second, he would not get the same burial as his wife. Grandpa Joe's wife Ellen was cremated several years ago. Three, some green burial cemeteries do not allow family to mark the grave site. This would make it hard for the Grippen family member to visit their beloved Grandpa Joe grave site. Not every option is the perfect option; some have negatives to it, but you have to choose the one that best fits the
situation.
Reflection
This assignment has made me realize that I am simple minded. I do not think in depth about situations or problem and why it happened or how to solve it. This assignment has helped me understand to stop and think about a situation. I have learned that I absolutely hate doing research papers. I do not like the process in trying to find an article that will relate to my paper's topic. I hope to improve the why I do research on papers in other upcoming college classes. This assignment has also helped me learn more about the career path I am wanting to pursue.