440.420 - Duties of funeral director, health officer and coroner when death occurs without medical attendance. - Nevada Statutes

440.420  Duties of funeral director, health officer and coroner when death occurs without medical attendance.

      1.  In case of any death occurring without medical attendance, the funeral director shall notify the local health officer of such death and refer the case to the local health officer for immediate investigation and certification.

      2.  Where there is no qualified physician in attendance, and in such cases only, the local health officer is authorized to make the certificate and return from the statements of relatives or other persons having adequate knowledge of the facts.

      3.  If the death was caused by unlawful or suspicious means, the local health officer shall then refer the case to the coroner for investigation and certification.

      4.  In counties which have adopted an ordinance authorizing a coroner’s examination in cases of sudden infant death syndrome, the funeral director shall notify the local health officer whenever the cause or suspected cause of death is sudden infant death syndrome. The local health officer shall then refer the case to the coroner for investigation and certification.

      5.  The coroner or the coroner’s deputy may certify the cause of death in any case which is referred to the coroner by the local health officer or pursuant to a local ordinance.

      [Part 8:199:1911; A 1937, 162; 1931 NCL § 5242]—(NRS A 1975, 1416; 1977, 352; 1983, 135)