HF 2053

as introduced - 84th Legislature (2005 - 2006) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to health; requiring a coroner or medical
examiner to be notified of a death of a nursing home
patient; amending Minnesota Statutes 2004, section
149A.90, subdivision 3.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 149A.90,
subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Referrals to coroner or medical examiner.

The
mortician, funeral director, or other person lawfully in charge
of the disposition of the body shall notify the coroner or
medical examiner before moving a body from the site of death in
any case:

(1) where the person is unable to obtain firm assurance
from the physician in attendance that the medical certification
will be signed;

(2) when circumstances suggest that the death was caused by
other than natural causes;

(3) where deaths occur under mysterious or unusual
circumstances;

(4) where there is a violent death, whether homicidal,
suicidal, or accidental, including but not limited to: thermal,
chemical, electrical, or radiational injury; and deaths due to
criminal abortion, whether self-induced or not;

(5) where the body is to be disposed of in some manner
which prevents later examination, including but not limited to,
cremation, dissection, or burial at sea; deleted text begin or
deleted text end

(6) when the decedent was an inmate of a public institution
who was not hospitalized for organic disease new text begin ; or
new text end

new text begin (7) when the decedent was a resident of a nursing home
licensed under chapter 144A new text end .