[navigation1.htm]
Florida Statute 406.12 states that it is the duty of any person in the district where a death occurs, who becomes aware of the death, to report such death and circumstances forthwith to the District Medical Examiner.
Florida Statute 406.11 requires that deaths occurring under the following circumstances be reported:
I . By criminal violence of any type;
2. By accident of any type, including delayed deaths and deaths resulting
from medical complications following an accident;
3. By suicide;
4. Suddenly while in apparent good health;
*5. Unattended by a practicing physician or other recognized practitioners;
6. In prison or penal institutions;
7. In police custody;
8. Under suspicious or unusual circumstances;
9. By criminal abortion;
10. By poison;
11. By disease, injury or toxic agent resulting from employment;
12. When a body is brought into the state without proper medical certification;
13. When a body is to be cremated, dissected or buried at sea;
14. By disease constituting a threat to public health.
*Florida Statute 382.002 (4) defines death without medical attendance as: "A death occurring more than 30 days after the decedent was last treated by a physician except where death was medically expected as certified by an attending physician".
Deaths from natural causes occurring within 24 hours of hospitalization are not reportable unless one of the above is applicable.
Nursing home patients and patients in Hospice programs are considered attended. Such deaths need not be reported to the Medical Examiner unless one of the above is applicable.
Deaths occurring outside a medical facility should be reported to the Medical Examiner (except EXPECTED HOME DEATHS).