I received this from someone in Volcan whose husband died suddenly. She went through a horrible bureaucratic nightmare that could happen to anybody. These are the main issues she faced. I don’t know if it is this bad in Boquete, but assume it is unless someone informs us otherwise. Summary: Shortage of death certificates, doctor couldn’t be found, the guys at the morgue wanted a bribe, and the police treated a natural death as a crime scene.
This experience completely contradicts earlier advice that appeared on ning that said the first thing one should do is call the police. Is it different in Boquete, or is this a risky move here too?
This is her story:
First of all, his death was unexpected. Not a surprise in hindsight after he had been in the hospital for almost two weeks regarding surgery for arteriosclerosis. He was happy to be home but it did not bode well for him. After two days he passed in his sleep on a Sunday night.
If you are caring for someone with a terminal situation such as cancer, you are probably in a good constant relationship with a local doctor and much of this does not apply. In that case call the local doctor familiar with patient/deceased asap and then the funeral home. Denial will not fare well.
In spite of all directives do not call the police or hotline unless you absolutely have to and you cannot get in contact with the local doctor caring for the deceased. Then it becomes a crime scene and the coroner gets involved. The coroner does not issue a death certificate. Best that such a crisis happen Monday through Friday, 9-5.
After half a day of chasing down the local doctor (who had been visiting my husband weekly) and the doctor heading Central Salud, and a couple of other local government offices, nobody in Volcan had the form/paperwork to generate a death certificate. Ultimately the doctora from the Hospital Regional in David who attended to my husband did issue the death certificate. On the second day, the coroner accepted this reason for delay when another case with a lack of death certificate from the previous week reminded her of our situation. It prevented an autopsy.
Make sure the doctor has the carbon form of the death certificate. There is a shortage in the local system. And in the case of an expected death, much can be filled in advance as per the PDF "Death and Dying in Panama" from Boquete Hospice and Health.
The ultimate horror was that because it was a police involved event, my husband was taken to the government morgue in David and after three days, I had to identify him prior to the funeral home retrieval. "How many big gringo guys with recently amputated right leg and stitches still in with a hospital ID bracelet can there be?"
Not a best way to finally see one's loved one. Avoid this at all cost which goes back to: do not call the police or hotline unless absolutely necessary.
Additionally the guys at the morgue wanted $200 cash paid directly to them to clean the body (bio-hazardous due to decomposition) prior to the trip to Panama City for cremation. Where ever have you seen government workers accepting cash on site? All cash is handled by a cashier in a glass booth. Feeling like we were being taken, my friends and I talked them down and they accepted $80.
The various offices, stamps, signatures and documents acquired eventually did follow the process outlined in the "Death and Dying in Panama" document. (She omitted relating the hours she spent driving around to the various offices.)
I was very fortunate through this ordeal that my closest friend here in Panama is a retired US physician. My other dear friend who selflessly and tenaciously spoke for me for three tiring days is a native Spanish speaker and a retired hospice nurse also from the US.
Replies
This is the Death and Dying PDF from Boquete Hospice
http://boquetehospice.com/DyingInPanama.pdf
Thank you for posting that. On the day the person contacted me and needed that document, the Hospice website was down. All I had was the old document. This one is much better.
I second the thanks. None of us have a plan to die, but this document opened my eyes to many things I need to do, and haven't done, in getting a plan together for the possibility.
I'm a slow learner, but I have really come to a realization that any Ning input that comes from Sovereign Lady or Nancy Burgess is worth filing for future reference. Thank you ladies!
Thank you, this document is very helpful.
Patrick
WOW, What a nightmare. It's good that she had friends to help her.
Now image if this was a single man/woman with no close friends or family.
Single men/woman should write out specific instructions on what to do before becoming incapacitated.
Patrick