N.Y. Public Health Law § 4141: Death certificate; form and content

§ 4141. Death certificate; form and content. 1. The certificate of

death shall contain such information, including but not limited to the

decedent's social security number, and shall be in such form as the

commissioner may prescribe.

2. The personal particulars called for shall be furnished by a

competent person acquainted with the facts.

3. The statement of facts relating to the disposition of the body

shall be signed by the funeral director or undertaker in charge of the

corpse.

4. (a) The medical certificate shall be made, dated, and signed by the

physician or nurse practitioner, if any, last in attendance on the

deceased.

(b) Indefinite terms, denoting only symptoms of disease or conditions

resulting from disease, shall not be held sufficient.

(c) Any certificate stating the cause of death in terms which the

commissioner declares indefinite shall be returned to the physician,

nurse practitioner, or person making the medical certificate for

correction and more definite statement.

(d) Where a death is caused by an opioid overdose, such information

shall be indicated on the certificate, including, if known to the person

completing the death certificate, the specific opioid that caused the

death of the decedent, along with any other related information as the

commissioner may require.