Investigating deaths by law; Pending senate bill would require nursing homes to notify coroner of all nursing home deaths
Tuesday, February 22nd, 2005.
A new bill before the Indiana Senate seeks to change the way nursing homes report deaths. Currently, the coroner’s office is only notified in cases of suspected abuse, neglect, or other suspicious death. The new law would require long-term care facilities to report all deaths to the coroner, who would then decide which warranted further investigation. A similar law has been in effect in Arkansas since 1999. Detractors complain the addition is an unecessary one that just adds more tape to the already complicated bureaucratic system. Supporters point out that hospitals have had to report all deaths for several years and hope the change will provide another protection to the elderly.
From the article
Long-term care ombudsmen are clearly in support of the bill, noting that it’s the first time any such bill has been introduced in Indiana.
“Hospitals have for several years been required to report all deaths to the coroner, who determines whether to do a more intensive review, investigation or autopsy,” said Arlene Franklin, Indiana state ombudsman.
Since 1999, Arkansas has required this reporting from nursing homes, she said.
According to one Arkansas county coroner’s reports, 86 cases of suspected neglect were referred to the state during a four-year period. Yet the 86 referrals comprised just 2.2 percent of all nursing home deaths the coroner investigated.
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