What practices are prohibited by the Funeral Rule?

The Funeral Rule, established by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), aims to protect consumers by ensuring transparency and ethical practices in the funeral industry. Misleading pricing and unethical sales practices are explicitly prohibited under this rule. This includes not providing clear, itemized pricing information to consumers or engaging in deceptive sales tactics that could mislead families during a very sensitive time.

The essence of the rule is to promote honesty and integrity in the way funeral homes present their services and charges, thus giving consumers the necessary information to make informed decisions. This is crucial in enabling families to understand what they are paying for and to avoid unexpected costs.

Other options, while relevant to discussions around funeral services, do not pertain directly to the prohibitions laid out by the Funeral Rule. For instance, providing free burial services for low-income families is an ethical consideration but is not prohibited; it's more about offering charitable assistance. Similarly, practices like direct cremation without a fee or extended viewings without supervision may raise concern in various contexts but do not fall under the specific prohibitions of the Funeral Rule.