34-25-18. Medical certificate signed by attending physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner--Time for execution.

The licensed physician, physician assistant, or certified nurse practitioner, if any, last in attendance on any person whose death occurs in this state, shall complete, sign, and file a medical certificate with the department within five days of the date of death except in cases where the secretary of health has provided for longer periods by rules adopted pursuant to chapter 1-26.

Source: SDC 1939, § 27.0208; SL 1972, ch 194, § 23; SL 1991, ch 198, § 3; SL 2003, ch 186, § 2; SL 2017, ch 171, § 50.

34-25-18.1. Determination of death.

Any individual who has sustained either irreversible cessation of circulatory and respiratory functions or irreversible cessation of all functions of the entire brain, including the brain stem, is dead. A determination of death shall be made in accordance with accepted medical standards.

Source: SL 1990, ch 273.