Decedent Affairs

It is UTMB policy that an autopsy is requested on all non-medico-legal inpatient deaths (IHOP 9.15.2).

When there is a death the Nursing Service is responsible for the following:

Notify the Clinical Operations Administrator (COA) of death

Notify Southwest Transplant Alliance (SWTA)

• Provide patient demographics and history
• Contact number for SWTA 1-800-201-0527

Review all sections of the Decedent Affairs Paperwork (DAP) for the following:

• Medical Examiner case
• TDCJ Inmate
• Legal next-of-kin
• Consent for autopsy
• Funeral home disposition

Complete the Nursing part of section 6 on the checklist

If autopsy is to be performed, do the following:

• Do not remove lines and tubes
• Notify Transportation Dept to transfer body to Autopsy Service morgue
• Verify decedents ID is on body
• Contact COA for completeness of DAP process
• Send the DAP current and old medical records with the body to Autopsy Service morgue

If no autopsy is to be performed do the following:

• Remove all lines and tubes
• If applicable prepare body for family viewing
• Release personal belongings to family
• Notify the funeral home
• Provide funeral home representative with pronouncing physician name and telephone number
• Contact Nurse Administrator for completeness of DAP process
• Complete section 8 – Release of body
• Send DAP to Autopsy Service
• Document death in the Mortuary Records Log book

For Funeral Home Release from unit do the following:

• Complete section 8 with funeral home representative
• Provide funeral home representative with pronouncing physician name and telephone number
• Send DAP to Autopsy Service
• Document death in the Mortuary Records Log book

Nurse Administrator

• Check the DAP for completeness an initial
• After hours open’s morgue for Transportation Dept