If a death occurs without medical attendance, who should be notified?

• A. The physician who last attended the deceased
• B. The coroner having jurisdiction or the medical examiner
• C. The registrar of births and deaths
• D. The funeral director's supervisor

Answer: (B)

When a death occurs without medical attendance, the coroner having jurisdiction or the medical examiner should be notified. They are the officials responsible for initiating the death investigation, determining the cause and manner of death, and directing any autopsy or further examination as needed. Since no physician attended the death, there isn’t an attending doctor to notify, making the coroner or medical examiner the appropriate authority to contact. After the investigation and certification are completed, the registrar handles recording the death certificate, but the key notification and investigation come from the coroner or medical examiner. The funeral director’s supervisor may coordinate arrangements, but they are not the official responsible for triggering the death investigation.