State Laws regarding A Death
It is recommended that, when death occurs at home and the deceased is not under the care of a physician or hospice, the police should be notified. The Code of Virginia directs that, when death may be the result of violence, trauma, suspicious circumstances, when the deceased was in the apparent good health, or not under a doctor's care, the medical examiners must be notified. The police, funeral director or attending physician will do this if necessary.
General Guidelines
Regardless of when and where a death occurs, the family should call the funeral home of choice as soon as possible. At that time, the family will be asked some specific questions, such as the name and location of the family member who passed away, the name of the attending physician and the name and phone number of the next of kin.
Death In A Health Facility
When a death occurs in a hospital or nursing home, there is little the family need to do other than call the funeral home of choice. The medical staff at the health care facility will take the necessary steps to ensure that all legal requirements are met. Although some health care facilities will call the funeral home on behalf of the family, this is the exception rather than the rule. To be safe, it is best that the family calls directly.
Anticipated Death Outside A Health Care Facility
If a sudden death occurs outside a health care facility, the best advice is to call 911 to dispatch local police to the scene. The police will then determine the appropriate steps to take depending upon the particular situation. In the case of a nonsuspicious death of an apparently healthy individual, the police will call the State Medical Examiner's office and await instructions. The Medical Examiner, depending upon the circumstances, may require that an autopsy be performed. If the death was suspicious in nature, then the Medical Examiner would in all likelihood order an autopsy.
