The bill amends Section 24-14-20 of the New Mexico Statutes to allow physician assistants to certify the death of a patient, thereby expanding the list of medical professionals who can complete and sign the medical certification of cause of death. The new language specifies that the medical certification must be completed and signed within forty-eight hours after death by the physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant in charge of the patient's care. Additionally, it allows for the certification to be completed by associates of these professionals or the chief medical officer of the institution where the death occurred, provided they have access to the medical history and have viewed the deceased.

Furthermore, the bill clarifies the procedures for death registration, particularly in cases where death occurs without medical attendance or when a significant time has passed since the last medical examination. In such instances, the case must be referred to the state medical investigator for investigation to determine and certify the cause of death. The bill also includes definitions for terms such as "hospital," "nurse practitioner," and "nursing home" to ensure clarity in the application of the law. Overall, the amendments aim to streamline the death certification process and enhance the roles of physician assistants in vital statistics.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 24-14-20
Final Version: 24-14-20