What must a funeral home provide for human remains that will not be embalmed?

Funeral homes must provide refrigerated holding for human remains that will not be embalmed to ensure the dignity and preservation of the body. Without embalming, which is a process that temporarily prevents decomposition, the remains are particularly vulnerable to the natural decay process. Refrigeration helps to slow down this process, keeping the remains in a more stable and respectful condition until further arrangements are made, such as burial or cremation.

In situations where a body is not embalmed, having a designated refrigerated space is essential to comply with health regulations and to provide appropriate care for the deceased. This practice also aligns with state regulations, which mandate specific conditions for handling unembalmed remains.

Given this context, while options like immediate burial or cremation consent may be part of the broader care process, they do not fulfill the immediate requirement for preserving the body prior to final arrangements. A viewing room, while beneficial for family and friends, is not a necessary provision for the preservation of remains when embalming is not conducted. Thus, refrigerated holding is the most critical requirement in this scenario.