MED. EXAMINER: HOSPICE DEATH S.B. 724: COMMITTEE SUMMARY
Senate Bill 724 (as introduced 9-23-03)
Sponsor: Senator Tom George
Committee: Health Policy
Date Completed: 5-5-04
CONTENT
The bill would amend Public Act 181 of 1953, which governs county medical examiners, to prohibit a county medical examiner or deputy county medical examiner from conducting an investigation into the cause and manner of death of an individual under hospice care, under certain circumstances.
The Act requires a county medical examiner or deputy county medical examiner to investigate the cause and manner of death of an individual who dies without medical attendance during the 48 hours immediately preceding the time of death, unless the attending physician is able to determine accurately the time of death. Under the bill, if an individual who was certified as being terminally ill died while under hospice care and did not receive medical attendance during the immediately preceding 48 hours, the county medical examiner or deputy county medical examiner could not investigate the death unless he or she reasonably believed that the death was a result of suspicious circumstances, or the attending physician or a family member requested the investigation.
For this purpose, the bill would define "hospice care" as a program of planned end and continuous hospice care provided by a hospice or a hospice residence that consisted of a coordinated set of services rendered at home or in a hospice residence or other institutional settings on a continuous basis for individuals suffering from a disease or condition with a terminal prognosis.
MCL 52.202 Legislative Analysts: Julie Koval
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
Fiscal Analyst: David Zin
Analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent. sb724/0304