216 R.I. Code R. 216-RICR-10-10-1.18

Current through December 26, 2024

Section 216-RICR-10-10-1.18 - Responsibility of Physician

A. Immediately following a person's death, the attending physician or the physician declaring a person dead, or if the death occurs in a hospital, a registered hospital medical officer duly appointed by the hospital director or administrator shall complete the physician's portion of the burial-transit permit, provided that the death does not fall under the jurisdiction of the medical examiner in accordance with § 1.18(C) of this Part, so that the burial-transit permit can be released with the dead body. Within forty-eight (48) hours of a person's death, the physician shall also give the funeral director a certificate of death on which only the following information has been completed:

1. The name of the deceased which shall be entered in the margin;

2. The date of death;

3. A properly completed medical certification of death, with cause of death printed or typed in black ink;

4. The certifier's signature and hand or machine printed name; and

5. Such other information as may be required in the medical certification section of the death certificate.

B. A staff member of an institution assisting the physician in completing the medical certification section of a death certificate shall complete only the medical certification section as designated by the physician.

C. The certifying physician shall not complete or sign the medical certification or burial-transit permit but shall refer the case to the medical examiner, where the decedent may appear to have met death in any manner as specified in Part 60-10-1 of this Title, Medical Examiner System, and R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 23-4.

216 R.I. Code R. 216-RICR-10-10-1.18

Amended effective 3/31/2021