Records Of Decedents

Records of decedents are confidential for as long as the Department maintains the records, except as needed by: (3-17-22) 01. Law Enforcement. If there is suspicion that the death was the result of criminal conduct. (3-17-22) 02. Coroners and Medical Examiners. Information may be given to a coroner or medical examine r for the purpose of identifying a deceased person, determining a cause of death, or other duties as authorized by law. (3-17-22) 03. Funeral Directors. Confidential information may be given to funeral directors, consistent wit h applicable law, as necessary to carry out their duties with respect to the decedent. If necessary to carry out their duties, confidential information may be disclosed to funeral directors prior to and in reasonable anticipation of th e individual's death. (3-17-22) 04. Personal Representatives. While records are maintained, the same confidentiality requirement s apply to the personal representative of the estate or other legal representative of the deceased individual. Informatio n may be disclosed to such representatives only to the extent necessary to perform their legal function, (3-17-22) 05. Family Members and Others. The Department may disclose health information to a famil y member, other relative, a close personal friend of the deceased individual, or any other person identified by th e deceased individual. Information provided must be directly related to such person’s involvement with the individual’s care or payment for health care prior to the individual’s death, unless doing so is inconsistent with any prior expresse d preference of the individual that is known to the Department. (3-17-22)