Wisconsin Legislative Council
ACT MEMO
One Ea st Ma in Stre e t, Suite 401 • Ma dison, W I 53703 • (608) 266-1304 • le g.council@le gis.wisconsin.gov • http://www.le gis.wisconsin.gov/lc
Prepared by: Amber Otis, Senior Staff Attorney April 1, 2024
2023 Wisconsin Act 175
[2023 Senate Bill 178]
Requirement to Contact
Coroners and Medical Examiners
for Certain Deaths
Under state law, physicians, authorities of various medical institutions, and other persons having
knowledge of a death must report certain types of deaths, including suicide, to the sheriff, police chief,
medical examiner, or coroner of the county where the death took place.
2023 Wisconsin Act 175 generally creates a requirement to contact a medical examiner or coroner when
a death occurs within 24 hours of arriving at a hospital, with the purpose of such contact being to
determine whether the medical examiner or coroner has jurisdiction over that death’s investigation.
Specifically, the act requires that, if a person required to report deaths has knowledge of a death that
occurred within 24 hours after an individual either has presented at, or is admitted to, a hospital or
similar institution, whichever is earlier, the person with knowledge of such a death must contact the
medical examiner or coroner to determine whether the death is reportable under the current laws
requiring a medical examiner or coroner to investigate certain types of death. However, the act’s
requirements do not apply to a hospice, as defined under state law.
Effective date: March 24, 2024
For a full history of the bill, visit the Legislature’s bill history page.
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