We believe our area funeral homes and the people who work there fundamentally care about their work. They know it is important, and they know they will face harsh, deserved scrutiny and anger if they mess things up for any grieving family. Since funeral homes also are businesses, they know their reputations are on the line, especially given the nature of the delicate but demanding responsibility that falls upon them.

We cannot agree that funeral homes need to be regulated more severely by the state of Minnesota in the wake of one recent mistake. It involved a funeral home in Edina reportedly putting out the wrong body at a visitation. State regulation cannot “fix” a human error of this kind. State regulation can create unnecessary burdens and costs for funeral homes, for their clients and for taxpayers, though.

Word is going to spread about a funeral home that makes an egregious mistake, and people are going to be able to decide whether to patronize that business. In the case of the Edina funeral home, the state fined the establishment $18,000, money that will pointlessly go into state coffers. Wouldn’t it be better for the funeral home to refund payment to the family involved?

Statists are, of course, trying to make a mountain out of this molehill, saying there are a “growing number” of such incidents. There aren’t. Other problems cited involving funeral homes? Lapsed licenses, moving a body without a funeral director present and improperly disposing of chemicals. Hardly reasons to increase funding for the state’s mortuary science inspections. A tarnished reputation (or fear of it) will suffice in these matters.