{"ref":"LA-HSP-DTH-01","title":"Death of a Patient, Pronouncement and Post-Mortem Care","category":"Hospice care","summary":"The Agency’s written policy to follow at the time of a patient’s death (LAC 48:I §8221.C.17) and its post-mortem care procedures (§8235.D.1.i): preparing the family, the death visit, who pronounces death in Louisiana (a physician under R.S. 9:111(A), or the coroner, who may rely on a registered nurse’s or LPN’s firsthand observation at the scene under R.S. 9:111(B) as amended by Act 367 of 2026), when the coroner must be notified (R.S. 13:5712), controlled substance disposal, post-mortem care, release to the funeral home, and records.","inShort":["Our nurses do not pronounce death. A physician pronounces it, or the coroner, who may rely on what the nurse observed.","Call the coroner at once if the death was sudden, accidental, violent, suspicious or without medical attendance in the last 24 hours, or if the parish procedure requires it.","If anything looks unusual, leave tubes and the room as they are and wait for the coroner’s instructions.","Dispose of unused controlled substances with a witness, unless the family declines or the coroner asks you to wait.","Follow the family’s wishes and rituals, give post-mortem care with dignity, and complete the death visit record the same day."],"primaryCitation":"LAC 48:I §8221.C.17","citations":["LAC 48:I §8221.C.17","LAC 48:I §8235.D.1.i","LAC 48:I §8201 (Do Not Resuscitate Orders; LaPOST)","LAC 48:I §8235.D.2.o.iv","R.S. 9:111","Act 367 of 2026","R.S. 13:5712","R.S. 13:5713","R.S. 40:32 et seq.","R.S. 40:2191"],"federalCitations":["42 CFR §418.110","29 CFR §1910.1030"],"surveyorAsks":["Walk me through what your nurse does when a family calls to say the patient has died.","Who pronounces death for your home patients, and how do you contact the coroner?"],"forms":[{"ref":"LA-HSP-DTH-01-A","title":"Death Visit and Post-Mortem Care Record"}],"headings":["Terms of Reference","1. Purpose","2. Scope","3. Definitions","4. Policy Statement (LAC 48:I §8221.C.17)","5. Preparing for an Expected Death","6. When the Family Calls","7. At the Home","8. Notifying the Coroner","9. Controlled Substances","10. Post-Mortem Care","11. Release to the Funeral Home","12. After the Visit","13. Deaths in Facilities","14. Supporting Staff","15. Responsibilities","16. Records and Compliance Monitoring","17. Staff Training","18. References","19. Related Policies and Forms","20. Approval","21. Revision History"],"version":"1.0","sample":false,"pack":"la-hospice","state":"Louisiana","service":"Hospice","guides":[{"path":"/guides/hospice-policies/","h1":"What policies are required for hospice?"},{"path":"/guides/hospice-conditions-of-participation/","h1":"Hospice Conditions of Participation: which policies each one needs"}],"agency":{"name":"Sample Agency","legalName":"Sample Agency, LLC","logo":null}}