Relative to medical examiner's certificates and medical certification of the death record.
This legislation is expected to have a tangible impact on the operational protocols within the office of the chief medical examiner. Specifically, it aims to balance the need for regulatory oversight with the realities of increasing cremation rates and the logistical challenges posed by the current requirements for body viewing. The fiscal note accompanying the bill suggests that the changes could lead to a significant decrease in general fund expenditures, ranging from $100,000 to $500,000 annually, primarily due to reduced travel costs for medical examiners who would no longer have to view bodies where there is no cause for concern regarding the death.
SB146 is aimed at modifying existing regulations surrounding the cremation of human remains and the certification of death records in New Hampshire. The bill establishes certain procedures that must be followed to ensure that a deceased person's body can be cremated only after a medical examiner has conducted an inquiry and issued a certificate. Importantly, the bill eliminates the requirement for examiners to physically view the body within a specific timeframe, which proponents argue will streamline the process of cremation while maintaining legal and health safeguards.
The sentiment around SB146 appears to be generally supportive among legislators and legal entities involved in the enforcement of death-related regulations. Advocates for the bill view it as a necessary update to an outdated process, conducive to modern practices in death certification and cremation. However, there may still be varying opinions regarding the adequacy of the safeguards in place for potentially contentious cases involving suspicious deaths.
Noteworthy points of contention surrounding SB146 include concerns about the effectiveness of eliminating the viewing requirement, which could theoretically lower oversight in certain cases. Critics worry that without the physical examination of bodies, some cases might slip through the cracks, particularly those involving foul play or discrepancies in death causes. Nonetheless, the overarching goal of the bill is to modernize and streamline processes in a way that accommodates growing trends in cremation and provides clarity for practitioners and families alike.