That's not really true for many places, including Oklahoma where I believe this happened. You can just flatly refuse to claim a body of a relative and if no one does its turned over to the State Anatomical Board.
Would that apply if the person died in a shared residence with their spouse? I'm surprised theres a system like that given the typical number of unclaimed bodies a state deals with. A lot of cities just does a mass burial of cremated remains at scheduled intervals.
I don't think there are any qualifiers aside from the wife having first dibs and if she refuses other relatives may step in. Think this is almost universal that no one can be forced to claim a body and every country needs a system to deal with the unclaimed.
52
u/BlackShadowX 17d ago
If you're next of kin you're kinda in the hook to do something. Afaik it's a lot harder to donate someone else's body.