The bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 144.221, by adding a new subdivision that outlines the requirements for providing cause of death information in cases of investigated natural deaths where a medical examiner or coroner has declined jurisdiction. The new language specifies that if a death is determined to be due to natural causes, the cause of death information must be provided by a physician who was present at the time of death, a physician or associate who treated the deceased prior to death, or a physician with direct knowledge of the circumstances and access to the deceased's medical records.

Additionally, if no physician from the specified categories is available, a physician or associate of a physician who treated the deceased has 72 hours to fulfill the requirement after being notified of the medical examiner's or coroner's decision. The bill also allows a medical examiner or coroner to provide cause of death information if the designated time period has elapsed or if they receive a statement indicating that the physician or associate refuses to provide the information. Furthermore, it permits the medical examiner or coroner to recover costs incurred in providing this information from the refusing physician or their employer.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 144.221