(a) A registered nurse, licensed under this chapter, in charge in a hospice, nursing home facility, as defined in section 19a-521, or residential care home, as defined in section 19a-521, or a registered nurse, licensed under this chapter or a registered nurse employed by a home health care agency licensed by the state of Connecticut, in a home or residence may make the actual determination and pronouncement of death of a patient provided that the following conditions are satisfied: (1) The death is an anticipated death; (2) the registered nurse attests to such pronouncement on the certificate of death; and (3) the registered nurse, an advanced practice registered nurse licensed under this chapter, or a physician licensed under chapter 370 certifies the death and signs the certificate of death not later than twenty-four hours after the pronouncement.
(b) The Department of Public Health shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to establish the procedures for the implementation of this section.
(P.A. 87-354, S. 1; P.A. 93-3, S. 1, 2; 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 04-255, S. 23; P.A. 13-208, S. 57; P.A. 14-231, S. 61.)
History: P.A. 93-3 deleted requirement that presence of contagious disease be listed on birth certificate, effective March 24, 1993; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 04-255 amended Subsec. (a) by allowing a registered nurse or advanced practice registered nurse to certify death and sign certificate and by making technical changes, and amended Subsec. (b) by deleting provision re department notification of persons affected by implementation of regulations; P.A. 13-208 added reference to residential care home and made technical changes, effective July 1, 2013; P.A. 14-231 amended Subsec. (a) by making a technical change.