Duke faculty members and the Duke Human Rights Center are working to protect human rights for the dead and dying.
Human rights for the dead are becoming increasingly important as the U.S. sees a rise in deceased individuals without anyone to claim their bodies. Such rights include the right to a dignified burial, according to Robin Kirk, professor of the practice of cultural anthropology.
When individuals die in their homes and go unclaimed, the police can call funeral homes to pick them up. However, Kirk explained that many funeral homes may refuse because the cash reimbursement they receive from the state is too low…