Maryland Health - General Section 10-714

      (a)      (1)      Upon notification of the death of an individual in a State funded or operated program or facility, the administrative head of the program or facility shall report the death:

                  (i)      Immediately to the sheriff, police, or chief law enforcement official in the jurisdiction in which the death occurred;

                  (ii)      Immediately to the Secretary; and

                  (iii)      By the close of business of the next working day to:

                        1.      The Director;

                        2.      The health officer in the jurisdiction where the death occurred; and

                        3.      The designated State protection and advocacy system.

            (2)      An initial report:

                  (i)      May be:

                        1.      Oral if followed by a written report within 5 working days from the date of the death; or

                        2.      Written;

                  (ii)      Shall contain the following relevant information:

                        1.      The name, age, and sex of the deceased;

                        2.      The time of discovery of the death;

                        3.      The deceased's place of residence at the time of death;

                        4.      If the death occurred in a place other than the residence of the deceased, the location of the body at the time of discovery;

                        5.      The place where the body was found;

                        6.      The name of the person who took custody of the body;

                        7.      The name of the person evaluating the death, if known;

                        8.      Whether or not an autopsy is being performed, if known; and

                        9.      The name, address, and telephone number of the next of kin or legal guardian, if known; and

                  (iii)      Shall contain any other information the administrative head of the facility determines should be provided to the medical examiner and the persons listed in paragraph (1) of this subsection on the deaths occurring:

                        1.      By violence;

                        2.      By suicide;

                        3.      By casualty;

                        4.      Suddenly, if the deceased was in apparent good health; or

                        5.      In any suspicious or unusual manner.

            (3)      The written report shall be available for the Director, the health officer in the jurisdiction where the death occurred, and the designated State protection and advocacy system within 5 working days from the date of the death.

      (b)      The sheriff, police, or chief law enforcement officer shall inform the medical examiner in accordance with § 5-309(b) of this article and the medical examiner, if necessary, shall conduct an investigation in accordance with the provisions of that section.

      (c)      (1)      The Director shall compile annually a status report for the Secretary on patient deaths reported under this subtitle.

            (2)      At a minimum, the status report shall note:

                  (i)      The number of deaths;

                  (ii)      The location of each death;

                  (iii)      The cause of each death, if known; and

                  (iv)      Other data the Secretary determines to be relevant to the status report.