Religious and cultural belief systems regarding death and the deceased body and their potential to impact upon forensic practice: eastern religious belief systems and maori culture

Abstract

As forensic pathologists working in an age which facilitates population migration and travel, we will no doubt service populations that harbour religious and cultural diversity. Cultural and religious belief systems and death customs have the potential to impact upon our forensic practice in terms of our interactions with families and the deceased, tissue procurement, and on occasion constituting reasons for autopsy refusal. By utilising a wide range of written resources including religious texts, books, internet resources and medical literature, this research project aims to identify and outline customs and belief systems surrounding death, mourning and the body of the deceased which might impact upon our forensic practice. Specifically I will focus on Maori culture and eastern religious belief.