MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2000 Regular Session

To: Public Health and Welfare

By: Representatives Banks, Fleming, Straughter, Wallace, West

AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE ATTENDING PHYSICIAN OF A DECEASED PERSON TO SIGN THE DEATH CERTIFICATE FOR THE DECEASED PERSON WITHIN TEN DAYS AFTER IT IS PRESENTED TO THE PHYSICIAN; TO PROVIDE A PENALTY FOR VIOLATIONS OF THIS ACT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. (1) Any physician in charge of the care of a deceased person, who is presented a certificate of death for the deceased person by the funeral home that handled the funeral arrangements for the deceased, the medical examiner or the State Department of Health, shall sign the certificate of death within ten (10) working days after the certificate is presented to him or her, or provide the presenter of the certificate with a satisfactory explanation for his or her refusal or inability to sign the certificate.

(2) Any physician who violates the provisions of subsection (1) of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00).

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2000.