An Act Regarding Registration and Correction of Death Information on Death Certificates
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 0252
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: CRAVEN, SIROCKI, FARNSWORTH, MALABY
Amends: 22 MRSA §2842

Legislative Document 
No. 252 
S.P. 88 
In Senate, February 5, 2013 
An Act Regarding Registration and Correction of Death 
Information on Death Certificates 
Submitted by the Department of Health and Human Services pursuant to Joint Rule 204. 
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed. 
DAREK M. GRANT 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by Senator CRAVEN of Androscoggin. 
Cosponsored by Representative SIROCKI of Scarborough and 
Representatives: FARNSWORTH of Portland, MALABY of Hancock. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  22 MRSA §2842, sub-§§3 and 4, as amended by PL 2009, c. 601, §25, 
are further amended to read: 
3.  Medical certificate by medical examiner or the Office of the Chief Medical 
Examiner.  When a death occurs under circumstances that make it a medical examiner 
case as defined in section 3025, or when inquiry as to the cause of death is required by 
law, the medical examiner or the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner shall complete 
the medical certification of the cause of death as specified by department rule and sign 
the death certificate.  A certification need not be completed before the remains are ready 
for release.  
The medical examiner or the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is responsible for the 
identity of the deceased and the time, date, place, cause, manner and circumstances of 
death on the death certificate.  Entries may be left "pending" if further study is needed; or, 
at the specific direction of the Attorney General relative to cases under investigation by 
the Attorney General's office, entries must be left "withheld" until such time as the 
Attorney General, in the Attorney General's sole discretion, determines that any criminal 
investigation and prosecution will not be harmed by public disclosure of such 
information.  Notwithstanding section 2706, subsection 4, unless directed otherwise by 
the Attorney General as specified in this subsection, this information for which the 
medical examiner is responsible may be made available to the general public by the 
Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. 
4.  Correction of errors on death statistic records filed under chapter 711.  
Certificates of death in medical examiner cases, as defined in section 3025, may be 
completed or amended at any time by means described in rule by the department to the 
Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.  Either the Chief Medical Examiner or the medical 
examiner assigned to the case may sign the forms or submit an electronic amendment or 
file a certificate using the electronic death registration system in accordance with section 
2847.  A person authorized by the Chief Medical Examiner may amend a certificate of 
death with respect to the time, date, place and circumstances of death. The medical 
examiner assigned shall submit the form or electronic amendment to the Office of the 
Chief Medical Examiner for filing with the State Registrar of Vital Statistics.  These 
forms or electronic amendments may be filed at any time after death and need not include 
a summary description of the evidence in support of the completion or amendment. 
SUMMARY 
This bill adds the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner as a certifier of cause of 
death on a death certificate to accommodate the electronic death registration system.  It 
also permits the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to electronically submit 
amendments to the death certificate using the electronic death registration system.