N.J. Admin. Code § 8:70-6.1

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 23, December 2, 2024

Section 8:70-6.1 - Medical examiner certification and amendments

(a) It shall be the responsibility of the medical examiner to require the proper identification of the decedent for the death certificate. This may be accomplished by visual recognition of the decedent's body by next of kin or friend when the decedent's body is in recognizable condition. "Friend" means any person who, prior to the decedent's death, maintained close contact with the decedent sufficient to render that person knowledgeable with the decedent's activities, and who presents a sworn statement or affidavit stating the facts and circumstances upon which the claim that the person is a friend is based. Identification may also be made by a combination of scientific means, circumstances, and personal effects if the deceased is not in recognizable condition.

(b) It shall be the responsibility of the medical examiner who issues a death certificate to conduct personally a complete physical examination of at least the external surfaces of the unclothed dead body and to make a full and complete description of this examination and to file it with the Office of the State Medical Examiner. The clothing and personal effects shall be viewed and an inventory prepared, and a receipt shall be obtained upon release from the medical examiner's custody.

(c) The medical examiner shall personally sign the death certificate after examining the body, as required by law, and shall be responsible for the truthfulness and accuracy of the medical information herein contained.

(d) It shall be the responsibility of the medical examiner to supply all additional information required by the State Registrar for the completion of pending death certificates within a reasonable period not to exceed 120 days, on the forms provided by the Registrar, except for extenuating circumstances.

N.J. Admin. Code § 8:70-6.1

Amended by R.1989 d.110, effective 2/21/1989.
See: 20 N.J.R. 2856(b), 21 N.J.R. 447(a).
Substantially amended.