This bill proposes an amendment to Minnesota Statutes 2024, Section 144.221, by adding a subdivision concerning the provision of cause of death information for investigated natural deaths.

Key Provisions:

1. Responsibility for Cause of Death Information:

   • If a medical examiner or coroner investigates a death but declines jurisdiction after determining it was due to natural causes, the cause of death must be provided by:
     1. A physician present at the time of death.
     2. A physician or associate of a physician who provided medical treatment before death.
     3. A physician with direct knowledge of the cause of death and access to the deceased’s medical records.

2. Timeframe for Completion:

   • If no physician meets criteria (1) or (3), a physician meeting criterion (2) has 72 hours to provide the cause of death information after being notified that the medical examiner/coroner declined jurisdiction and that no other qualified physician is available.
     

3. Role of the Medical Examiner or Coroner:

   • If the 72-hour period expires without cause of death information being provided, or if a physician refuses to provide the information, the medical examiner/coroner may step in to provide it.
   • In such a case, the medical examiner/coroner can recover costs incurred in providing cause of death information from the refusing physician or the facility/organization that employed the physician at the time of refusal.

This bill aims to ensure timely documentation of natural deaths while also holding physicians or their employers accountable if they fail to fulfill this responsibility.