CHAPTER 5
FORMERLY
SENATE BILL NO. 20
AS AMENDED BY SENATE AMENDMENT NO. 1
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO NURSES; AND PERMITTING NURSES TO MAKE PRONOUNCEMENTS OF DEATH UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:
Section 1. Amend subsection (e), Section 1703, Chapter 17, Title 24 of the Delaware Code by adding thereto a new paragraph, designated as paragraph (9), which paragraph shall read as follows:
"(9) Any licensed registered nurse from making a pronouncement of death, and signing all forms or certificates registering such death as may be required by the State; provided, however, that this provision shall only apply to attending nurses caring for terminally ill patients in the home or place of residence of the deceased as part of a hospice program, or in a hospice; and provided that the attending physician of record has agreed in writing to permit the attending registered nurse to make a pronouncement of death."
Section 2. Amend §1902, Chapter 19, Title 24 of the Delaware Code by adding the following sentence to the end of subsection (b):
"A registered nurse shall have the authority, as part of the practice of professional nursing, to make a pronouncement of death; provided, however, that this provision shall only apply to attending nurses caring for terminally ill patients in the home or place of residence of the deceased as part of a hospice program, or in a hospice; and provided that the attending physician of record has agreed in writing to permit the attending registered nurse to make a pronouncement of death."
Approved April 4, 1989