Who can sign a report of fetal death if it occurs outside of a medical institution?

In cases of fetal death occurring outside a medical institution, the report must be signed by an attending physician. This is because the attending physician is typically the individual responsible for the care of the mother and fetus prior to the fetal demise. Their role involves not only providing medical care but also certifying the circumstances surrounding the death, which includes knowledge of the medical history, the situation leading up to the fetal death, and other pertinent details.

Attending physicians have the appropriate training and qualifications to evaluate the situation, assess the cause of death, and ensure that all legal and procedural requirements for the death certificate are met. This level of responsibility and authority is crucial for the accurate and responsible documentation necessary in such sensitive cases.

While other healthcare professionals, like registered nurses or medical examiners, have significant roles in patient care and investigations, respectively, the formal certification of death is designated to the attending physician in this context, highlighting the physician's central role in managing patient care continuity and legal documentation.