Spiritual Care Services

Office of Decedent Affairs

Stanford's Office of Decedent Affairs is available to help families and staff at any time a patient dies.

• Help for families with the steps they need to take to make burial or cremation arrangements, whether the families are local or from out-of-town. Assistance for families who for religious or cultural reasons need to make arrangements for an immediate burial or cremation.
• Provides coordination between Stanford Health Care, Donor Network West, and the Santa Clara County Medical Examiner's Office.
• Support staff and physicians with what needs to be done at the time of a death.
• Questions regarding the autopsy service at Stanford, including assistance completing autopsy consents.
• Help with families who have special needs or requests.
• Serves as liaison with funeral homes as they make arrangements with families.
• Ongoing support for families when there are questions about autopsies, obtaining copies of medical records or death certificates.