Is profiting from death wrong?

Not necessarily.

Now before the ethics mob jumps all over this and seek refuge in the high grounds of political correctness, hear me out.

In order to make real money, you have to change the way you think about it. There is nothing dirty about money or earning a profit. The problem comes from dishonesty and underhandedness. If you are offering a valuable and necessary service/product, why shouldn't you be paid for it? Furthermore, if you're offering a valuable and necessary service people will WANT to pay you for it.

Let's consider the funeral industry. Which is absolutely for profit.
Outside of IM, this is one of the few industries where a seller can earn a 500% markup on products and services and customers will gladly pay it.

There are also flower arrangers, tombstone engravers, urn designers, and host of other people who get paid every time someone dies. Why aren't these profiteers on the wall of shame?

It's not as if you have to pay, in the US there are only a few specific tasks that must be handled by licensed personnel. So if a family wanted to handle more of process they could. In fact, if you decline embalming, there is very little need for a funeral home.

But the funeral home takes the EEWWWWEEE factor out of death and makes it more palatable for our civilized sensibilities. A very valuable service indeed.

What about the owner of the flower shop located across the street from the cemetery? Think he feels shame over profiting from death? Nope, I bet he sleeps like a baby with full knowledge that part of his profit is earned because someone died.

Why don't these business owners feel badly about profiting from grief and death? Because they understand the value and importance of the services they provide and there is nothing unethical about providing a valuable service.

I edited a book for a client who lost her mother to breast cancer. She wanted to share her experience in hopes that it may help other people overcome grief. Is she going to profit from the grief of others? Yes. Is she providing a valuable service? Yes. Is it ok? In my opinion,Yes.

The point I want you to consider is that as long as you're providing real value and not snake-oil there is nothing wrong with making money in any niche.

What do you think?