Bill > HF1727

This bill modifies the requirements for determining and reporting cause of death information in cases of investigated natural deaths in Minnesota. Specifically, when a medical examiner or coroner determines a death is due to natural causes and declines jurisdiction, the cause of death must be provided by: (1) a physician present at the time of death, (2) a physician or their associate who provided medical treatment to the deceased before death, or (3) a physician with direct knowledge of the death's circumstances and access to the deceased's medical record. If no physician from the first or third categories is available, a physician or their associate from the second category has 72 hours to complete the cause of death documentation after being notified that the medical examiner has declined jurisdiction and no other qualifying physician exists. If the responsible physicians fail to provide the cause of death information, the medical examiner or coroner may then step in to provide the information and can recover all associated costs from the refusing physician, their employer, or the employing facility. This bill aims to ensure clear and timely documentation of cause of death in natural death cases by establishing a structured process for determining and reporting the cause of death.

Health and Social Services

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=House&f=HF1727&ssn=0&y=2025