{"id":959,"date":"2017-10-31T22:37:58","date_gmt":"2017-10-31T22:37:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.scottishmedicalhumanities.org\/human\/?p=959"},"modified":"2018-04-22T22:31:43","modified_gmt":"2018-04-22T21:31:43","slug":"crem-forms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scottishmedicalhumanities.org\/human\/crem-forms\/","title":{"rendered":"Crem forms"},"content":{"rendered":"

One thing you’re paid in cash for
\nAs a junior doctor
\nIs filling in forms
\nfor the crematorium<\/p>\n

Finally, time
\nTo study the file, to catalogue
\nDying of 1a, 1b, exacerbated by c
\nAnd wish you knew this all before<\/p>\n

You summarise, we worked hard
\nBut death worked harder
\nSometimes, the more you like them
\nThe worse the prognosis<\/p>\n

You write, I examined the body
\nIt looked nothing like any living person
\nBut I believe it to belong
\nTo the aforementioned protagonist<\/p>\n

You don\u2019t write, it was a fucking tragedy, but concede
\nNo suspicious circumstances surrounded the death
\nAnd pocket the tragedy
\nAnd the money<\/p>\n

One girl
\nBought a coat with hers
\nAnd went to and from work
\nIn her fond and bitter memories<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Crem Forms<\/em> by Rachel Bingham, with the author’s permission.<\/p>\n

Commentary<\/h3>\n

Cremation (crem) forms are required if a patient is to be cremated in the UK. They confirm the identity of the deceased, and that the death was from natural causes. The forms attract small payments from undertakers, usually the only extras received above salary by junior doctors. You must see the body after death to complete the form, and if you were not present at the time of death, this entails a sombre visit to the mortuary. If the death was unexpected, or particularly sad, this can be an arresting and thought-provoking experience. Bingham captures the conflicting feelings.<\/p>\n

Rachel Bingham is a London GP who has also worked at Freedom from Torture and for M\u00e9decin Sans Fronti\u00e8res. This and another poem were Commended in the 2017 Hippocrates prize for Poetry in Medicine.<\/p>\n

Further info<\/h3>\n