The bill H. 3616 aims to amend Section 44-63-74 of the South Carolina Code of Laws, which pertains to the medical certifications of cause of death. The proposed changes require hospitals to provide the cause of death to a deceased patient's family before the body is released and prior to the completion of any necessary discharge processes. This ensures that families are informed of the cause of death in a timely manner.

Additionally, the bill establishes penalties for physicians and hospitals that fail to comply with these requirements. Specifically, a physician who does not certify the cause of death within forty-eight hours or a hospital that does not provide the cause of death to the family may face administrative penalties. The Department of Health will notify the Board of Medical Examiners if a penalty is imposed on a physician, with each day of non-compliance considered an additional violation. The bill will take effect upon approval by the Governor.

Statutes affected:
12/12/2024: 44-63-74
Latest Version: 44-63-74