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New Law Permits Registered Nurses To Sign Death Certificates When They Are Authorized To Pronounce Death.

Publication: Mondaq Business Briefing
Publication Date: 16-MAY-05 		Format: Online
Delivery: Immediate Online Access

Article Excerpt
Originally published January 2005

Effective October 1, 2004, registered nurses ("RNs") may sign the medical portion of a death certificate when they have been authorized to pronounce death of nursing home, hospice or home care patients. The new law, Public Act No. 04-255, An Act Concerning Funeral Directors and Vital Records, also permits advance practice nurses ("APRNs") and physician assistants ("PAs") to sign the medical portion of death certificates under certain circumstances.

The General Assembly enacted these new provisions to respond to issues raised by funeral directors about the logistical challenges involved in attempting to obtain physicians' signatures on death certificates. Although the new law should ease these logistical challenges by expanding authority to sign the medical portion of death certificates, there are still some limitations; an RN's ability to sign a death certificate is limited to situations in which he or she is authorized to pronounce death. Nursing homes, hospices and home health agencies should make sure that they understand the law and how it affects existing state requirements and facility/agency policy.

Summary of New Provisions

1. General Rule:

Public Act No. 04-255 provides that the...

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