SB317: Bill Text

Note: Requires a coroner or medical examiner who determines that a death reported under s. 969.01 (1), stats., was a therapeutic-related death to indicate that determination on the death certificate. See Section 2 of the bill for the definition of "therapeutic-related death".

Section 979.01 (1), stats., provides for reporting certain deaths to coroners and medical examiners as follows:

"All physicians, authorities of hospitals, sanatoriums, institutions (public and private), convalescent homes, authorities of any institution of a like nature, and other persons having knowledge of the death of any person who has died under any of the following circumstances, shall immediately report such death to the sheriff, police chief, medical examiner or coroner of the county wherein such death took place, and the sheriff or police chief shall, immediately upon notification, notify the coroner or the medical examiner and the coroner or medical examiner of the county where death took place, if the crime, injury or event occurred in another county, shall report such death immediately to the coroner or medical examiner of that county:

(a) All deaths in which there are unexplained, unusual or suspicious circumstances.

(b) All homicides.

(c) All suicides.

(d) All deaths following an abortion.

(e) All deaths due to poisoning, whether homicidal, suicidal or accidental.

(f) All deaths following accidents, whether the injury is or is not the primary cause of death.

(g) When there was no physician, or accredited practitioner of a bona fide religious denomination relying upon prayer or spiritual means for healing in attendance within 30 days preceding death.

(h) When a physician refuses to sign the death certificate.

(i) When, after reasonable efforts, a physician cannot be obtained to sign the medical certification as required under s. 69.18 (2) (b) or (c) within 6 days after the pronouncement of death or sooner under circumstances which the coroner or medical examiner determines to be an emergency.".

SB317, s. 9 Section 9. 979.01 (1p) of the statutes is created to read:

SB317,15,4 979.01 (1p) The coroner or medical examiner making a determination under sub. (1n) that a death was a therapeutic-related death shall report this information to the department of regulation and licensing.

Note: Requires a coroner or medical examiner who determines that a death reported under s. 979.01, stats., was a therapeutic-related death to report that information to DORL.

SB317, s. 10 Section 10 . Nonstatutory provisions; report to legislature.

SB317,15,13 (1) Report on time guidelines. No later than May 1, 2001, the department of regulation and licensing shall submit, to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature, as determined by the speaker of the assembly or the president of the senate, in the manner provided under section 13.172 (3) of the statutes, a report on the disciplinary process timelines that were implemented by the department as guidelines in February 1999. The report shall address compliance with and enforcement of the guidelines and the effect of the guidelines on the fairness and efficiency of the disciplinary process.

Note: Based on recommendations of its ad hoc enforcement advisory committee, DORL in February of 1999 adopted as department policy specific time lines for processing disciplinary cases once a complaint is received by DORL division of enforcement. The special committee on discipline of health care professionals was supportive of the implementation of the guidelines and concluded it will be useful for the legislature to be apprised of the experience with the guidelines.

SB317, s. 11 Section 11. Nonstatutory provisions; medical examining board.

SB317,16,3 (1) Initial appointment of additional public members. Notwithstanding the length of term specified in section 15.405 (7) (b) (intro.) of the statutes, the 2 additional public members of the medical examining board shall be initially appointed for the following terms by the first day of the 4th month beginning after the effective date of this act:

SB317,16,4 (a) One public member, for a term expiring on July 1, 2002.

SB317,16,5 (b) One public member, for a term expiring on July 1, 2003.

Note: Provides that the 2 new public members, who are appointed to the board for staggered 4-year terms, will have initial terms that expire on July 1, 2002 and July 1, 2003.

SB317, s. 12 Section 12. Initial applicability.

SB317,16,9 (1) The treatment of section 440.037 (4) of the statutes first applies to cases of possible unprofessional conduct that are screened on the effective date of this subsection.

SB317,16,11 (2) The treatment of section 440.037 (5) of the statutes first applies to formal complaints that are filed on the effective date of this subsection.

SB317,16,14 (3) The treatment of sections 440.037 (6) and 448.02 (3) (c) and (d) of the statutes first applies to cases of unprofessional conduct for which a formal complaint is filed on the effective date of this subsection.

SB317, s. 13 Section 13. Effective dates. This act takes effect on the day after publication, except as follows:

SB317,16,18 (1) The treatment of sections 69.18 (2) (g) and 979.01 (1n) and (1p) of the statutes takes effect on the first day of the 6th month beginning after publication.

SB317,16,19 (End)