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What Does It Mean If the Death Certificate Reads Pending?

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What Does It Mean If the Death Certificate Reads Pending? you are the legal next of kin, (2) name of the How do families obtain a death Where do families write or call? decedent, (3) decedent’s date of death, (4) certificate? address where reports should be mailed, and The original death certificated is filed in the The addresses and phone numbers of the (5) a signature and contact telephone number local health department by the funeral direc- district offices are as follows: (or you may detach, complete and mail the tor or the organization making final disposi- attached form). When others inquire, a brief tion of the remains. Next of kin and others Central District statement of the cause and manner of death legally entitled to obtain the death certificate 400 East Jackson Street is released. Reports are available from the may obtain copies from the Registrar in the Richmond, VA 23219 district offices in Richmond, Manassas, Roa- city or county of death or at the Division of Phone: (804) 786-3174 noke, and Norfolk. Vital Records in Richmond, Virginia. Fax: (804) 371-8595 E-mail: [email protected] How long does it take to obtain What if families have questions reports? about the medical examiner’s report or autopsy? Tidewater District 830 Southampton Avenue, Suite 100 The length of time to receive a report varies Norfolk, VA 23510 on a case-by-case basis and by district office. Next of kin may call the district office and Phone: (757) 683-8366 Complicated cases may take several months speak with the office staff or pathologist. Fax: (757) 683-2589 to resolve. The district office can usually Families wishing to visit the office and E-mail: [email protected] give an estimate of the time required for the speak directly with the pathologist should completion of an individual case. make an appointment beforehand to make certain the pathologist will be available. Western District What does it mean if the death 6600 Northside High School Road certificate reads pending? What does the medical examiner Roanoke, VA 24019 do that helps family and friends? Phone: (540) 561-6615 When the medical or law enforcement inves- Fax: (540) 561-6619 tigation is incomplete, a case is placed in The medical examiner signs the death certificate E-mail: [email protected] pending status. The most common tests with the cause and manner of death on a medical needed are analyses for drugs and medica- examiner case. The benefits of a properly certi- tion and forensic science tests. The issuance fied death certificate are legal and medical. Next Northern Virginia District of a final death certificate may also be de- of kin must have a properly completed death cer- 10850 Pyramid Place, Suite 121 tificate to claim insurance, receive government layed pending further investigation, such as benefits, settle the decedent’s estate, and pursue Manassas, VA 20110 a review of medical records or a police re- any legal actions they wish to initiate. The medi- Phone: (703) 530-2600 port. Funeral arrangements need not be de- cal benefits include a medical determination of Fax: (703) 530-0510 layed because the death certificate reads the cause of death, recognition of unsuspected E-mail: [email protected] “pending.” The decedent can be buried or unnatural causes of death, the identification of cremated after an autopsy even though the public health hazards to family and others, and For more information, visit our website: cause and manner of death are pending. sometimes the identification of a health condition Every effort is made to complete cases that may be hereditary. The criminal and civil vdh.state.va.us/medexam/ promptly so that the death certificate may be courts also require documentation of the cause completed. and manner of death. 7/2013 ____________________ ______________________________ Number:_______________________________________ Contact Phone Your _____________ Zip: ________________ State: ___________________ City: _________________________________________________________ Street: _________________________________________________________ Name: to: be mailed to are copies These report ____ reports: he of following a copy am requesting and I _________________________ of the died date who on _____________________________ kin of of legal next and ______________ the am __________________________ I, What is a Medical Examiner? What does “violent or unnatural” Who decides which cases Autopsy Report ____MedicalAutopsy Examiner's ____ Report A Virginia city or county medical examiner mean? require a medicolegal autopsy? Your (required) Signature is a physician appointed by law to determine Why are medicolegal autopsies Detach, complete the information, place in envelope and mail to District Office Office District to andmail in envelope place information, the complete Detach, the cause and manner of death of persons Violent or unnatural means the death was due-or Printed name Printed name Relationship who die under specific circumstances spelled performed? Who performs them? is suspected of being due-to injury of any kind or out by law. Deaths under the jurisdiction of poisoning. The medical examiner decides if an autopsy the medical examiner are called medical ex- aminer cases. Law enforcement officials, must be performed. Medicolegal autopsies are physicians, hospitals, funeral directors, and performed for several reasons: (1) to establish others are required to report to the medical the cause of death when no reasonable diagno- If someone’s death appears to be examiner any death they think might be a sis can be made from medical history, physical medical examiners case. natural, why is the medical exam- examination, and circumstances surrounding iner involved? the death; (2) to document internal injuries as Which deaths must be well as external injuries; (3) to collect medical examined and investigated? The medical examiner may take jurisdiction over evidence such as tissue biopsies, body fluids, The medical examiner is required by law to an apparently natural death (1) if the death was and trace evidence and; (4) to reconstruct how examine and investigate deaths that (1) oc- unexpected and no medical cause can be deter- the injury or injuries occurred. In Virginia, spe- cur when the decedent was not under the mined; (2) if the decedent was not under the care cialist physicians called forensic pathologists care of a physician; (2) are sudden and unex- of a physician for any disease which could rea- perform the medicolegal autopsies and prepare Date pected; (3) are due to violence of any kind; sonably be expected to cause death; or (3) if the the reports. and (4) occur where violence might be sus- death might be a public health hazard. Deaths pected or violence cannot be reasonably occurring under circumstances which are not May a family refuse a medicolegal ruled out. The medical examiner decides if a clear, or to persons who are at risk for possible autopsy? death must then become a medical exam- violence, may also be medical examiner cases. Toxicology Report iner’s case. By law, the deaths of all prisoners are medical Families may not refuse a medicolegal autopsy examiner cases. because they are performed to answer medi- What do “cause and manner of colegal questions that are “in the public inter- What kind of examination of the est.” This means that the autopsy is needed to death” mean? body does the medical address a question of law. The cause of death is the medical disease, examiner perform? injury, or poison (alcohol, drug, or toxic sub- Do family members have access stance) that caused the physical death of a In about half the cases accepted and investigated, person. The manner of death is a description the medical examiner evaluates the medical his- to the reports of the medical Full name of decedent of Full name of the circumstances surrounding the death. tory of the decedent, performs an external physi- examiner and the pathologist? Deaths are classified by manner as natural, cal examination, obtains body fluids for toxi- accident, suicide, homicide, undetermined, cologic testing, and investigates the circum- The report of an investigation by a medical and pending. Deaths resulting from injuries stances of the death with law enforcementoffi- examiner (CME 1 report), the report of the au- or complications from injuries – no matter cials to determine the cause and manner of death. topsy (CME 10 report), and laboratory reports how long after the injury occurred – are still The remaining cases require a medicolegal au- are available to the legal next of kin of the de- medical examiner cases and fall under the topsy. On all accepted cases, the medical exam- cedent upon written request. The written re- jurisdiction of the medical examiner. iner signs the death certificate. quest should include (1) your name, and you must state that .
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