Horror story from a patient yesterday. Her sister was unmarried but living with her man for 14 years. He's 63. She wakes up one morning to find he has unexpectedly died in his sleep (probable heart attack although there has been no autopsy).
She calls the paramedics, who come and certify he's dead so they don't take him. Police and coroner come (because it's an unexpected death at home). But coroner can't take the body until he has permission from next of kin. Hours later they finally get hold of a relative who can okay it; meanwhile she's sitting with the body of her dearly departed boyfriend in her house for HOURS.
I've certainly thought about the fact that CMM could die at my house. As a cancer patient, a heart attack or sudden blood clot or stroke is not out of the realm of possibility. But I never thought I'd have trouble getting the body out of my house if that happened! I'll be getting a legal power of attorney this week.
