§ 35-1-418 — Death registration

Wyoming § 35-1-418

• Jurisdiction: Wyoming
• Title 35: Public Health and Safety
• Ch. 1: ADMINISTRATION
• Art. 4: VITAL RECORDS

Text

(a) A death certificate for each death which occurs in
this state shall be filed with the local registrar of the
registration district in which the death occurred within three
(3) days after the death and prior to removal of the body from
the state and shall be registered by such registrar if it has
been completed and filed in accordance with this section,
provided:
(i) That if the place of death is unknown, a death
certificate shall be filed in the registration district in which
a dead body is found within three (3) days after such
occurrence; and
(ii) If the death occurs in a moving conveyance, a
death certificate shall be filed in the registration district in
which the dead body is first removed from such conveyance.
(b) The funeral director or person acting as such who
first assumes custody of a dead body shall file the death
certificate. He shall obtain the personal data from the next of
kin or the best qualified person or source available. He shall
obtain the medical certification of cause of death from the
person responsible therefor.
(c) The medical certification shall be completed and
signed within a reasonable time after death by the primary
health care provider in charge of the patient's care for the
illness or condition which resulted in death, except when
inquiry is required by the postmortem examination. If the death
occurred without medical attendance or if the primary health
care provider last in attendance refuses or for any reason fails
to sign the certificate immediately, the funeral director or
person acting as funeral director shall notify the appropriate
local registrar. In that event the local registrar shall inform
the local health officer and refer the case to him for immediate
investigation and certification of cause of death prior to
issuing a permit for burial, cremation or other disposition of
the body. If the circumstances of the case suggest that the
death was caused by other than natural causes, the local
registrar shall refer the case to the coroner for investigation
and certification. The coroner shall examine the body and
consider the history of the case, and obtain the assistance and
advice of a competent physician who will assist the coroner in
determining the cause of death by examination of the body,
autopsy, inquest or other procedure determined necessary. The
nonmedical coroner shall not diagnose the cause of death without
the assistance and advice of a competent physician, advanced
practice registered nurse or physician assistant. The coroner or
local health officer shall complete and sign the medical
certification within a reasonable time after taking charge of
the case.
(d) For purposes of this section, "primary health care
provider" means as defined in W.S. 35-22-402(a)(xiv).