When to Contact a Medical Examiner?

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Rev. 06112014

Unit 2 -

Who Certifies and When?

Click on the link to review Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 38, Section 3 and Section 3 of Chapter 52 of the Acts of 2014 which amends it. This statute lists all circumstances of death where a medical examiner must be contacted. When in doubt, always call the M.E. While ideally, the physician, nurse practitioner, or other pronouncer of death will immediately contact the medical examiner; any party involved in the preparation of the death certificate is obligated to do so if the case was not already referred. Based on statute, select the one situation that does not require you to contact a Medical Examiner:

While ideally, the physician, nurse practitioner, or other pronouncer of death will immediately contact the medical examiner; any party involved in the preparation of the death certificate is obligated to do so if the case was not already referred.

Based on statute, select the one situation that does not require you to contact a Medical Examiner:

Death from pneumonia, resulting from complications of an accident that occurred five years ago

Death during cardiac surgery, where no therapeutic accident occurred

Death from influenza after five days in a nursing home, not resulting from an accident or injury

Death from leukemia, after a long illness, of a 15 year old female

Death due to sepsis originating from a cut sustained at the decedent's deli business

Death in an emergency treatment facility

Death where suspicion of abuse of a child, family or household member, elder person or disabled person exists

Death due to chronic use of drugs or alcohol