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1006 - Reportable Deaths

1006.1 POLICY

California Government code 27491 establishes the type(s) of deaths requiring an inquiry by the coroner. In accordance with and in addition to this code, the Deputy Coroner shall conduct a death investigation to determine the circumstances, cause, and manner of all reported deaths in any of the following categories:

  • Deaths where the decedent was not under the regular care of a physician.
  • Deaths where the decedent has not been treated by a physician or registered nurse, who is a member of a hospice interdisciplinary team, within 20 days prior to death.
  • Deaths where the physician is unable to accurately state the cause of death.
  • When homicide is known or suspected.
  • When suicide is known or suspected.
  • When the death is known or suspected to be in whole or in part the result of an accident or injury, either old or recent.
  • When the death is known or suspected to be the result of a criminal act.
  • When the death is following a known or suspected self-induced criminal abortion.
  • When the death is associated with a known or alleged rape or crime against nature.
  • When aspiration, starvation, exposure, drug addiction, acute alcoholism, or traumatic injury is the known or suspected cause.
  • When the death is known or suspected to be a result of poisoning.
  • When the death is the known or suspected result of occupational disease or hazards.
  • When the death is known or suspected to be the result of a contagious disease.
  • When the death occurred while in the custody of a law enforcement agency.
  • When the decedent is an unidentified person.
  • When the decedent is the patient of a state hospital serving the mentally or physically disabled.
  • When the death is the known or suspected result of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death Syndrome.
  • Fetal deaths where the decedent is 20 weeks gestation or more.
  • Unattended deaths.

1006.2 DEATH CERTIFICATE SIGNATURES

The Coroner Division Commander or his/her designee shall sign the death certificate for all deaths listed in section 1106.1 of this policy, unless investigation determines that the death was of natural causes and the decedent's assigned physician is willing and able to state the cause of death.

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