Death Certificates

Maryland law mandates that physicians and physician assistants complete a medical certification within 24 hours of receiving a death certificate.

§4-212(b)(4) of the Health-General Article, Annotated Code of Maryland, states: “The medical certification shall be completed within 24 hours after receipt of the death certificate by the physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner in charge of the patient's care for the illness or condition which resulted in death, except when inquiry is required by the medical examiner.”

Physicians and physician assistants with questions about completing a death certificate should contact:

• The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner: 410-333-3271 (available 24 hours) / info@ocmemd.org
• Vital Statistics Administration (Maryland Electronic Death Registration System): adrs.help@maryland.gov

Additional resources and links:

• CDC NCHS Improving Cause-of-Death Reporting Video
• CDC NCHS Physician's Handbook on the Medical Certification of Death (2023)
• CDC Cause of Death Mobile Application
• Instructions for Completing the Cause-of-Death Section of the Death Certificate
• NAME Resources
  • Cina 14-Death Certification - A Final Service to Your Patient
  • Hanzlick 05-Quick tips on writing cause of death statements
  • Hanzlick 97-Cause of death statements and certification of natural and unnatural deaths
  • Hanzlick 05-Writing cause of death statements-Basic principles
  • Hanzlick 02-A guide for manner of death classification