What Happens to Pacemakers, Implants and Artificial Joints After You Die?

Why do pacemakers have to be removed before cremation?

Pacemakers and implanted cardiac defibrillators contain a battery, and batteries can rupture or explode under the intense heat of a cremation chamber - a genuine safety risk to crematory staff and equipment, not just a theoretical concern. Because of this, removing these devices beforehand is a standard, required step, not an optional precaution.

Who actually removes the device, and when?

This is typically handled by funeral home staff, or in some cases a physician, before cremation takes place. Families are generally asked directly, as part of routine cremation paperwork, whether their loved one had a pacemaker or similar implanted device - this is a standard question precisely because of the safety issue involved, not an unusual or invasive one.

What if the family isn’t sure whether their loved one had one?

It’s worth checking medical records or asking the person’s physician if there’s genuine uncertainty, since this matters for safety, not just recordkeeping. Funeral homes are experienced in asking about and confirming this before proceeding, so it’s a normal part of the intake conversation rather than something a family needs to already know with certainty.

Does an artificial joint or hip replacement need to be removed too?

No - unlike battery-powered devices, implants like artificial joints, plates, screws, and similar orthopedic hardware don’t pose the same risk and don’t need to be removed before cremation. They’re generally made of materials like titanium or stainless steel that don’t burn, and simply remain behind after the process completes.

What happens to those metal implants after cremation?

After cremation, remaining metal - from joint replacements, surgical plates and screws, or similar hardware - is typically separated from the cremated remains, often using a magnet as part of standard post-cremation processing. This is routine, expected, and part of why cremated remains are processed into a consistent texture before being returned to the family, rather than returned exactly as they come out of the chamber.

What happens to the separated metal afterward?

Many crematories partner with medical device recycling programs, which process this separated metal - sometimes with proceeds benefiting a charitable cause. This has become a fairly well-established practice within the cremation industry, though specific programs and practices vary by crematory, so asking directly is reasonable if this is something a family wants to know more about.

Does any of this matter for burial instead of cremation?

Generally, no - burial doesn’t involve the same heat-related safety concern, so there’s typically no requirement to remove a pacemaker, defibrillator, or any other implant before burial. This distinction is specifically about the cremation process itself, not implants in general.

Does this affect organ or tissue donation decisions?

Not directly - organ and tissue donation decisions and eligibility are handled separately, based on medical criteria at the time of death, and are a distinct process from what happens to existing implanted devices afterward. See our guide on organ and tissue donation after death for more on how that process works.

Specific procedures can vary by crematory and state regulation - a funeral home or crematory can answer questions specific to a particular device or situation.