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|Beliefs and Practices Related to Dying and Death for Major Religions |

|Religion |Autopsy |Organ Donation |Beliefs and Practices |

|Judaism (Orthodox) |Only in special |With consultation of |Visits to the dying are a religious duty. |

| |circumstances |rabbi |Witness must be present if death occurs, to protect |

| | | |family and commit soul to God. |

| | | |Torah and Psalms may be read and prayers recited. |

| | | |Conversation is kept to a minimum. |

| | | |Someone should be with the body after death until |

| | | |burial, usually within 24 hours. |

| | | |Body must not be touched 8 to 30 minutes after death. |

| | | |Medical personnel should not touch or wash body unless|

| | | |death occurs on Jewish Sabbath; then care may be given|

| | | |by staff wearing gloves. |

| | | |Water is removed from the room. |

| | | |Mirrors may be covered at family’s request. |

| | | |Jewish practices and beliefs can be very different |

| | | |from family to family. Asking the patient or family |

| | | |members about their practices is probably best. Asking|

| | | |is not offensive, and shows that you care about and |

| | | |respect the patient’s and family’s wishes. |

|Hinduism |Permitted |Permitted |Priest ties thread around neck or wrist of deceased |

| | | |and pours water in the mouth. |

| | | |Only family and friends touch body. |

|Buddhism |Personal preference |Permitted |Buddhist priest is present at death. |

| | | |Last rites are chanted at the bedside. |

|Islam (Muslim) |Only for medical or |Not permitted |Before death, read Koran and pray. |

| |legal reasons | |Patient confesses sins and asks forgiveness of family.|

| | | |Only family touches or washes body. |

| | | |After death, turn the head towards the right shoulder.|

|Roman Catholic |Permitted |Permitted |Sacrament of the Sick administered to ill patients, to|

| | | |patients in imminent danger, or shortly after death. |

|Christian Scientist |Unlikely |Not permitted |No ritual is performed before or after death. |

|Church of Christ |Permitted |Permitted |No ritual is performed before or after death. |

|Jehovah’s Witness |Only if required by |Not permitted |No ritual is performed before or after death. |

| |law | | |

|Baptist |Permitted |Permitted |Clergy ministers through counseling and prayers. |

|Episcopalian |Permitted |Permitted |Last rites are optional. |

|Lutheran |Permitted |Permitted |Last rites are optional. |

|Eastern Orthodox Christian|Not encouraged |Not encouraged |Last rites are mandatory and are given by ordained |

| | | |priest. |

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