Who must sign the death certificate in Pennsylvania?

In Pennsylvania, the death certificate must be signed by a licensed physician, certified nurse practitioner, or coroner. This requirement ensures that the cause of death is accurately determined and officially recorded by qualified medical professionals who have the appropriate training and authority to make such determinations.

Physicians and nurse practitioners are often directly involved in the care of the deceased and are equipped to assess and document the medical history and the circumstances surrounding the death. A coroner, appointed to investigate deaths that are sudden, unexplained, or result from certain conditions, is also authorized to sign death certificates in these cases.

The signatures of family members, funeral directors, or administrative staff do not fulfill the legal requirements for signing a death certificate, as they do not possess the necessary medical training to certify a cause of death or the qualifications needed to ascertain whether a death should be reported to a coroner’s office. This process helps maintain the integrity of public health records and supports legal standards surrounding death documentation.