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 an associate of the physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant, 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 elapsed 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.

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