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Should death occur in an institutional setting such as a hospital, hospice, or long term care facility, the health care professionals of the facility will attend to any and all details surrounding the pronouncement and certification of death by a physician or coroner as the case may be.

If death occurs at home, there are two possible scenarios:

Expected Death at Home: Generally health care agencies such as the Community Care Access Centre organize in advance the events that will occur when death takes place.  In our region, a program is in place where a registered nurse may pronounce the death permitting the transfer of the deceased from the residence to the funeral home.  The family physician would provide the Medical Certification of Death to the funeral home a short time later.  This program has greatly reduced the complication families face when death occurs at home relieving the need of the physician to visit the residence for pronouncement and the ensuing delays that were often associated.

Unexpected or Unattended Death at Home: Under such circumstances further investigation of the death is required and you are advised to telephone 911.  Appropriate assistance would be dispatched to the residence.  If it is determined that death has occurred, police will summon the coroner who will attend upon the place of death.  It would then be determined whether the deceased may be released and transferred to the funeral home, or if a post mortem examination or autopsy is required which would be completed at a hospital.  In either case, the funeral director would be summoned by the coroner to transfer to the determined location.  Should an autopsy be ordered, the funeral director will assist by keeping in contact with authorities to arrange for the release of the deceased and obtaining the Medical Certification once the examination is completed.

In either situation, we suggest contacting us as soon as possible at the location of your choice.  You may also wish to contact your clergy and close family and friends of the deceased as soon as possible.