206

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 21

(VI) CRIMINAL OR SUSPECTED CRIMINAL
ABORTION.

(D)  INABILITY TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF DEATH.

(1)  IF, WITHIN 24 HOURS AFTER TAKING CHARGE OF A
BODY, THE MEDICAL EXAMINER HAS NOT DETERMINED THE CAUSE OF
DEATH, THE MEDICAL EXAMINER SHALL ENTER "INVESTIGATION
PENDING" IN THE CAUSE OF DEATH SECTION OF THE DEATH
CERTIFICATE.

(2)  AS SOON AS THE MEDICAL EXAMINER DETERMINES
THE CAUSE OF DEATH, THE MEDICAL EXAMINER SHALL SEND TO THE
SECRETARY A REPORT OF THE CAUSE OF DEATH, FOR ENTRY ON THE
CERTIFICATE.

(E)  TIME OF PRESENTATION TO MORTICIAN.

(1)  A PHYSICIAN WHO FILLS OUT A CERTIFICATE OF
DEATH SHALL GIVE IT TO THE MORTICIAN WITHIN 24 HOURS AFTER
THE DEATH OCCURRED.

(2)  A MEDICAL EXAMINER WHO FILLS OUT A
CERTIFICATE OF DEATH SHALL GIVE IT TO THE MORTICIAN WITHIN
24 HOURS AFTER THE MEDICAL EXAMINER TOOK CHARGE OF THE BODY.

(F)  DEATH ON COMMON CARRIER.

IF A DEATH OCCURS ON A COMMON CARRIER AND THE BODY IS
REMOVED FROM THE CARRIER IN THIS STATE, THE INDIVIDUAL IN
CHARGE OR THE OWNER OF THE COMMON CARRIER OR A DESIGNEE
SHALL FILE A CERTIFICATE OF DEATH WITHIN 24 HOURS AFTER THE
BODY IS REMOVED FROM THE CARRIER. HOWEVER, IF THE DEATH
OCCURRED UNDER ANY OF THE CONDITIONS OR CIRCUMSTANCES SET
FORTH IN SUBSECTION (C) OF THIS SECTION, THE MEDICAL
EXAMINER SHALL BE NOTIFIED.

(G)  TIME OF FILING BY MORTICIAN.

A MORTICIAN WHO OBTAINS A CERTIFICATE OF DEATH UNDER
THIS SECTION SHALL FILE THE CERTIFICATE WITHIN 72 HOURS
AFTER THE DEATH.

(H) ONE CERTIFICATE PER DEATH; REPLACEMENT
CERTIFICATE.

(1)  EXCEPT AS AUTHORIZED UNDER THIS SUBTITLE, AN
INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS A DUTY TO FILL OUT AND SIGN A CERTIFICATE
OF DEATH MAY NOT EXECUTE MORE THAN ONE CERTIFICATE FOR A
DEATH.

(2)  THE ATTENDING PHYSICIAN OR A MEDICAL
EXAMINER WHO TAKES CHARGE OF A BODY MAY FILE A REPLACEMENT
DEATH CERTIFICATE IF A CORRECTION THAT THE PHYSICIAN OR
MEDICAL EXAMINER AUTHORIZES CANNOT BE ENTERED LEGIBLY ON THE
ORIGINAL CERTIFICATE.