Who should declare death? Family doctors point to a gap in the regulations

In Poland, there is no universally accessible system for doctors responsible for certifying deaths outside hospitals. Local solutions exist in some counties, but determining who should attend to the deceased can be challenging. Current regulations, based on a 1961 decree, assign the responsibility of issuing death certificates primarily to the doctor who last treated the deceased within 30 days prior to death. However, if this doctor lives more than four kilometers away or cannot inspect the body within 12 hours, other qualified individuals may be called. The lack of clarity in these regulations complicates matters for both families and doctors. The Zielona Góra Agreement advocates for a statutory regulation of the coroner's role, including clear guidelines for calling them and ensuring their availability. They emphasize the need for comprehensive changes to the death certification process, drawing on international examples for better organization.