2009 Iowa Code
Title 4 - Public Health
Subtitle 2 - Health-Related Activities
CHAPTER 144 - VITAL STATISTICS
144.28 - MEDICAL CERTIFICATION.

        144.28  MEDICAL CERTIFICATION.
         1. a.  For the purposes of this section, "nonnatural cause
      of death" means the death is a direct or indirect result of
      physical, chemical, thermal, or electrical trauma, or drug or alcohol
      intoxication or other poisoning.
         b.  Unless there is a nonnatural cause of death, the medical
      certification shall be completed and signed by the physician in
      charge of the patient's care for the illness or condition which
      resulted in death within seventy-two hours after receipt of the death
      certificate from the funeral director or individual who initially
      assumes custody of the body.
         c.  If there is a nonnatural cause of death, the county or
      state medical examiner shall be notified and shall conduct an
      inquiry.
         d.  If the decedent was an infant or child and the cause of
      death is not known, a medical examiner's inquiry shall be conducted
      and an autopsy performed as necessary to exclude a nonnatural cause
      of death.
         e.  If upon inquiry into a death, the county or state medical
      examiner determines that a preexisting natural disease or condition
      was the likely cause of death and that the death does not affect the
      public interest as described in section 331.802, subsection 3, the
      medical examiner may elect to defer to the physician in charge of the
      patient's preexisting condition the certification of the cause of
      death.
         f.  When an inquiry is required by the county or state medical
      examiner, the medical examiner shall investigate the cause and manner
      of death and shall complete and sign the medical certification within
      seventy-two hours after determination of the cause and manner of
      death.
         2.  The person completing the medical certification of cause of
      death shall attest to its accuracy either by signature or by an
      electronic process approved by rule.  

         Section History: Early Form

         [C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, § 2320; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, §
      141.4(18); C71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, § 144.28] 

         Section History: Recent Form

         97 Acts, ch 159, §16; 2002 Acts, ch 1098, §2; 2007 Acts, ch 159,
      §26; 2008 Acts, ch 1058, §13
         Referred to in § 144.35, 331.611