End of Life Care — Contact Medical Examiner — Clinical Pathway: Emergency

End of Life Care Clinical Pathway — Emergency Department

Contact Medical Examiner

Procedure: Deaths Reportable to the ME’s Office
Job Aid: Deaths Reportable to the ME’s Office (List of reportable deaths)

Philadelphia campus: Philadelphia Medical Examiner 215-685-7445
KOPH campus: Montgomery County Coroner 610-278-3057
Obtain patient information from face sheet and/or Social Work

Information Needed

From CHOP
MR/Patient From CHOP
  • Name
  • MR Number
  • DOB
  • Address
  • Home phone number
  • Parent/Guardian name
  • Parent/Guardian telephone number
  • Next of kin
  • Next of kin telephone number
  • Significant past medical history
  • Primary Care Provider
  • Time of death
  • Pronouncer of death
  • Events surrounding death and resuscitation
Medical Examiner Case
  • ME accepts case
  • Ask ME if it is acceptable to obtain locks of hair, fingerprints
  • Obtain /document ME case number
  • Typical reasons for ME jurisdiction
  • Sudden Death:
    • Not caused by recognized disease
    • Caused by suspicious circumstances
    • Occurring as a result of trauma
    • Peri-operative or peri-procedural
Non-Medical Examiner Case
  • ME declines case
  • Obtain/document name of person who declined case