HOSPICE DEATHS
A death of a hospice patient generally does not occur as an unexpected death and as such, hospice care providers are not required to report the death of a hospice patient to the Office of the Medical Examiner. The primary care physician of a hospice patient will sign the death certificate of their patient.
Medical Examiner Investigators are not expected to conduct a scene investigation when the manner of death is consistent with the diagnosed terminal illness.
The death of a hospice patient by what is believed to be any manner other than natural will be reported to the Office of the Medical Examiner and investigated by a medical examiner investigator.
COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINERS
Act 181 of 1953
AN ACT relative to investigations in certain instances of the causes of death within this state due to violence, negligence or other act or omission of a criminal nature or to protect public health; to provide for the taking of statements from injured persons under certain circumstances; to abolish the office of coroner and to create the office of county medical examiner in certain counties; to prescribe the powers and duties of county medical examiners; to prescribe penalties for violations of the provisions of this act; and to prescribe a referendum thereon.
http://legislature.mi.gov/doc.aspx?mcl-52-202
http://legislature.mi.gov/doc.aspx?mcl-52-203
