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 current law requires that the medical certification be completed and signed within forty-eight hours after death by a physician, nurse practitioner, or the physician assistant in charge of the patient's care. The amendment includes provisions for the medical certification to be completed by the physician's associate, nurse practitioner's associate, or physician assistant's associate, provided they have access to the medical history and view the deceased.

Additionally, the bill clarifies the referral process to the state medical investigator when a death occurs without medical attendance or when a significant time has passed since the last medical examination. It specifies that if a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner cannot ascertain the cause of death from the medical history, the case must be referred to the state medical investigator for further investigation. This change aims to streamline the death certification process and ensure that all relevant medical professionals can contribute to the accurate registration of deaths in New Mexico.

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