Delaware lawmakers have passed legislation that will change who has the legal authority to declare someone deceased and fill out official death documentation in the state.
Under the new law, physician assistants with valid Delaware licenses will now be permitted to officially pronounce when someone has died and handle the completion of medical death certifications. This represents an expansion of responsibilities for PAs working in the First State.
At the same time, the legislation strips registered nurses of their previous ability to complete medical death certifications. State officials say this change was necessary because allowing nurses to perform this function went against the established boundaries of their professional duties as outlined in Delaware’s legal code.
The bill also includes minor technical adjustments to ensure the language matches current legislative writing standards.
