MN HF1727

When a medical examiner or coroner investigates a death but declines jurisdiction after determining it was due to natural causes, a physician must provide the cause of death information—either one present at death, one who previously treated the deceased, or one with direct knowledge and medical record access

Treating physicians or their associates have 72 hours to provide cause of death information after receiving notification that the medical examiner declined jurisdiction and no other qualifying physician is available

Medical examiners or coroners who declined jurisdiction may step in to provide cause of death information if the 72-hour deadline passes or if a physician explicitly refuses to provide the information

Medical examiners or coroners who must provide cause of death information due to physician non-compliance may recover all costs from the refusing physician, their associate, or their employing facility or organization