Buddy Phaneuf to testify as fact witness in Bayview Crematory trial
CSNH's director Buddy Phaneuf has been subpoenaed by the state of New Hampshire to serve as a fact witness in the Bayview Crematory trial in the coming weeks.
The Seabrook crematory was shut down in February of 2005 after officials discovered that the facility had been operating for six years without a license and believed that remains had been mishandled. It is believed that hundreds of families in Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire may have received the wrong ashes because of lack of organized procedures at the crematorium.
In response to the Bayview investigation, Phaneuf released the following statement:
It is an unfortunate reality that some businesses in this industry do not operate properly or ethically. While we believe the state of New Hampshire has less than adequate regulations in place for operating such a business, we feel that it is the responsibility of the owners to set their own policies for crematory operations. We have developed the most rigorous set of operating policies and procedures in order to maximize our level of service and minimize the potential for human error. Positive identification of the deceased is always assured throughout each stage of the cremation process using our "10-Step Identification Control and Security System." As the largest cremation service provider to the public in New England, we require all operators to complete a training course and have licensed funeral directors overseeing the operations of our facility.
Phaneuf also called on Governor John Lynch to implement more specific and rigid guidelines for crematoriums in New Hampshire. The Governor has since launched a probe into the practices of each crematory in the state noting that, ''families coping with the loss of a loved one should know that their family members will be treated with respect and dignity." (Source: Boston Globe)
