SECTION 310:105-5-2. Delayed death certificates

  When a death has occurred in this State and has not been registered with the Vital Records Division, it may be registered by using the current certificate of death form when one of the following conditions is met:

(1)   The certificate of death is signed by the attending physician in charge of the patient's care for the illness or condition which resulted in death.

(2)   If death occurred in a hospital and the attending physician is no longer available, the medical certification may be completed on the basis of information contained in the permanent files of the hospital and signed by the medical records librarian. In such cases, it shall be noted on the face of the certificate that the information as shown is taken from the hospital records.

(3)   If death was due to an accident, the medical examiner that originally investigated the case and who originally had the responsibility for certifying the cause of death shall sign a medical examiner's certificate of death.

(4)   If death was due to an accident and the medical examiner originally responsible for completion is not available, then the Chief Medical Examiner may sign the certificate and certify the cause of death on the basis of information concerning the deceased contained in his files.

(5)   All certificates filed more than twelve (12) months after the date of death shall be filed as a delayed filing and shall indicate the date signed by the physician or hospital personnel and shall indicate the date placed on permanent file. it shall be indicated on the face of the certificate that it is a delayed filing by the State Registrar when placing on permanent file.