Texas Senate Bill SB335

Texas 2017 - 85th Regular

• Filed: 12/15/16

Caption

Relating to the delegation of death certification to attending physicians in certain counties.

Impact

The passage of SB335 is expected to enhance the efficiency of death certification procedures within larger counties in Texas. By permitting attending physicians to sign death certificates under specified conditions, the bill alleviates the burden on medical examiners and could reduce delays in the processing of death certificates. This change could facilitate timely closure for families and assist in the accurate recording of vital statistics necessary for state records and public health data.

Summary

SB335 proposes amendments to the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, specifically addressing the death certification process. The bill allows medical examiners in counties with populations exceeding one million to delegate the authority to complete the medical certification of death to the person's attending physician at the time of death or to another physician who treated the person during the previous 12 months. This provision aims to streamline the process of death certification, particularly in situations where the death is determined to be due to natural causes by the medical examiner following an inquest.

Contention

While there appears to be widespread support for simplifying the certification process, potential concerns may arise regarding the uniformity and accuracy of death certifications handled by attending physicians. Questions may be raised about the qualifications and readiness of attending physicians to fulfill this role, as their assessments could be crucial for determining cause of death and other significant medical implications. Additionally, ensuring that proper training and guidelines are established for attending physicians who undertake this responsibility will be important to mitigate the risk of errors in the death certification process.