Chief ME: Budget Cuts May Delay Jewish, Muslim Burials

Dr. Charles Hirsch, the chief medical examiner, told a City Council committee that proposed budget cuts will greatly impact his office's ability to handle its work—and to release bodies to Jewish and Muslim families quickly. He said, "Respecting the religious beliefs of the dead, and the families who interact with us on a daily basis, is very important. This budget reduction will greatly impact (our) ability to meet the needs of people of the Jewish and Islamic faiths in particular, religions which require the expeditious burial of remains." The Post says the city is cutting $7 million the ME's office budget, while the state is "threatening to withhold $18.4 million in reimbursements to the city office."

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on March 25, 2009 4:36 PM

Comments [rss]

jpeditor

"What if my pastafarianism requires that the ME stuff $100,000 into the suit pockets of my dead relative? Will they oblige because otherwise I'd be offended?"

Aren't you always offended?

EricRoberts

I am always offended and always filing lawsuits.

NannyState

FedEx charges extra for next-day delivery, why don't these guys?

MFer

The dead can wait. The families of the dead can weep a little longer. And the hyper-irrelevant-regilious can pray a little harder for a miracle.

specialist kiki

Ah, the MTA plot thickens.

specialist kiki

Ah, the MTA plot thickens.

EricRoberts

At what point are religious beliefs too costly to uphold? When does it go from "respect" to "special treatment"? Why shouldn't people who need expedited service be required to pay for it? In other words, why should everyone have to pay for certain people's superstitions?

What if my pastafarianism requires that the ME stuff $100,000 into the suit pockets of my dead relative? Will they oblige because otherwise I'd be offended?