Under what circumstances can a person be cremated without signed authorization?

A person can be cremated without signed authorization when ordered by a coroner or medical examiner. This provision exists because the coroner or medical examiner is responsible for determining the cause of death in cases that may involve suspicious circumstances or public health issues. Their authority allows them to bypass typical consent requirements to ensure that necessary investigative processes are completed in a timely manner and that the body can be handled appropriately.

In Washington State, if a death occurs under circumstances that require investigation, the coroner or medical examiner may determine that cremation is the most efficient course of action, especially if the body must be released quickly. This process ensures that laws surrounding the handling of deceased individuals are followed while also allowing the necessary investigative authority to operate effectively.

The other options, while they involve valid considerations in the context of cremation, do not provide the same level of legal backing to bypass authorization. Family consent is typically required when no other overriding circumstances are present, and claims related to contagious diseases do not automatically exempt a death from the necessity of consent. In cases where the deceased has no known relatives, it may not necessarily lead to authorization for cremation without proper legal procedures being followed.