The safety of cremation or the handling of ashes may be affected if the deceased received therapeutic radioactive implants and/or injections shortly before death. Some types of cancers require these treatments.
If any of the radioisotopes relevant to cremation have been administered within the time frame specified on Cremation Form 7, the following process is to occur.
1. The medical practitioner completing form 7 must contact the radiation safety officer or duty physicist at the treating institution and obtain a written radiation safety information or instruction which specifies any conditions on the cremation or handling of ashes.
Contact the department or clinic of treating institutions in Western Australia and ask for the radiation safety officer or duty physicist.
2. The written radiation safety information or instruction must be attached to the form 7 and provided to the medical referee, to inform the decision on cremation.
3. The medical referee must provide the written radiation safety information or instruction to the funeral director with the permit to cremate, should this be issued.
4. The funeral director must provide the written radiation safety information or instruction, along with the permit to cremate, to the crematorium.