Source: State Medical Board of Ohio
House Bill 96 made changes to Ohio law that impacts how death certificates must be completed. Effective Tuesday, September 30, Ohio’s new law:
- Clarifies that the coroner or medical examiner certifies the cause of death when a decedent dies as a result of criminal or other violent means, while an attending physician certifies the cause of death in all other circumstances.
- Authorizes the physician who last examined or treated a decedent to certify the decedent’s cause of death and complete and sign the medical certificate of death when there is no attending physician.
- Extends the current law timeline by which a medical certificate of death must be completed and signed, from 48 hours after death to 48 hours after notice of the death.
- Grants a coroner, medical examiner, or physician acting in good faith and upon reasonable belief immunity from civil liability and professional discipline for any act or omission in certifying the cause of death or in completing and signing the medical certificate of death.