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Office of the Medical Examiner
Indications for Reporting Death to Medical Examiner
Trauma or poisoning of any kind if suspected or known to be a factor in causation of death (whether immediate or delayed, major or minor).
Any death occurring outside a medical institution (e.g. death at home, DOA or E.R.) In many of these cases, jurisdiction is terminated when an attending physician is found who can issue a certificate stating natural causes alone as cause of death.
Any case in which certification of death by natural causes can not legitimately be made on the basis of clinical presentation and medical history.
Death occurring during or as a complication of a surgical or medical procedure.
Death resulting from an adverse reaction to medication.
Any case in which the reporting physician is unclear as to its status.
**Less than 24 hours hospitalization is not a reason per se for reporting deaths if other criteria are met.