Funerals enter the digital age and kick up an ethical storm

Is it ethical to charge people to watch a funeral using digital video conferencing? That is the question facing stakeholders in the funeral service in Southampton.

From today’s Telegraph:

A crematorium is to enable mourners to watch funerals live over the internet if they cannot pay their respects in person. Friends and relatives can pay £75 for a password to access a webcast of ceremonies at Southampton Crematorium.

For a £75 fee, families will recieve a username and password which they can pass on to anyone who cannot attend the ceremony. Mourners can also buy a DVD for £50 and an audio recording for £25.

Leaving aside the pricing strategy, this new service has created some opposition. But surely it is a logical and entrepreneurial response to the problems people face attending funerals.