Okla. Stat. tit. 63, § 63-1-317v1

A. A death certificate for each death which occurs in this

state shall be filed with the State Department of Health within ten

(10) calendar days after such death.

B. It shall be the duty of the funeral director to file the

death certificate. If the funeral director is not available, the

person acting as such who first assumes custody of a dead body in

accordance with Section 1158 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes

shall personally sign and file the death certificate. The funeral

director shall obtain the personal data from the next of kin or the

best qualified person or source available, enter the personal data

into the electronic system prescribed by the State Registrar of

Vital Statistics, and electronically transmit the partial

certificate produced by the electronic system to the physician,

physician assistant, Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, or medical

examiner responsible for completing the medical certification

portion of the certificate of death within twenty-four (24) hours

after the death.

C. 1. The medical certification shall be completed and

certified within five (5) calendar days after receipt of the partial

certificate by the physician, physician assistant, or Advanced

Practice Registered Nurse in charge of the patient’s care for the

illness or condition which resulted in death, except when inquiry as

to the cause of death is required by Section 938 of this title. The

physician, physician assistant, or Advanced Practice Registered

Nurse shall enter and certify the medical certification portion of

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 63. Public Health and Safety Page 188

certificate data in the electronic system prescribed by the State

Registrar of Vital Statistics.

2. In the event that the physician, physician assistant, or

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse in charge of the patient’s care

for the illness or condition which resulted in death is not in

attendance at the time of death, the medical certification shall be

completed and signed within five (5) calendar days after receipt of

the partial certificate by the physician, physician assistant, or

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse in attendance at the time of

death, except:

a. when the patient is under hospice care at the time of

death, the medical certification may be signed by the

hospice’s medical director, and

b. when inquiry as to the cause of death is required by

Section 938 of this title.

Provided, that such certification, if signed by other than the

attending physician, physician assistant, or Advanced Practice

Registered Nurse, shall note on the face the name of the attending

physician, physician assistant, or Advanced Practice Registered

Nurse and that the information shown is only as reported.

D. Within four (4) calendar days after receipt of the medical

certification from the physician, physician assistant, or Advanced

Practice Registered Nurse as described in subsection C of this

section, the funeral director shall conduct a final review of the

personal data and the medical certification, electronically sign the

death certificate, and submit the death certificate to the State

Registrar of Vital Statistics through the electronic system

prescribed by the State Registrar of Vital Statistics for official

registration.

E. A certifier completing cause of death on a certificate of

death who knows that a lethal drug, overdose or other means of

assisting suicide within the meaning of Sections 3141.2 through

3141.4 of this title caused or contributed to the death shall list

that means among the chain of events under cause of death or list it

in the box that describes how the injury occurred. If such means is

in the chain of events under cause of death or in the box that

describes how the injury occurred, the certifier shall indicate

“suicide” as the manner of death.

F. The authority of a physician assistant to carry out the

functions described in this section shall be governed by the
ain of events under cause of death or list it

in the box that describes how the injury occurred. If such means is

in the chain of events under cause of death or in the box that

describes how the injury occurred, the certifier shall indicate

“suicide” as the manner of death.

F. The authority of a physician assistant to carry out the

functions described in this section shall be governed by the

practice agreement as provided by Section 519.6 of Title 59 of the

Oklahoma Statutes.

G. A physician, physician assistant, or Advanced Practice

Registered Nurse completing and signing a medical certification in

accordance with this section shall not be liable in a civil action

to recover damages for any acts or omissions relating to the medical

certification if the cause of death is determined in good faith

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 63. Public Health and Safety Page 189

using the individual’s best clinical judgment consistent with

current guidance provided by the applicable licensing board, unless

the acts or omissions amount to willful or wanton misconduct. The

immunity provided by this subsection shall be in addition to any

other immunity from liability to which these individuals may be

entitled.