Coroners: reporting requirements: prescription drug use.

Existing law requires a coroner to make a report, as specified, when he or she receives information that indicates that a death may be the result of a physician and surgeon's, podiatrist's, or physician assistant's gross negligence or incompetence. Existing law requires the report to be followed, within 90 days, by copies of the coroner's report, autopsy protocol, and all other relevant information. This bill would require the coroner's report and other information to follow the report within 90 days or as soon as possible once the coroner's final report of investigation is complete. The bill, until January 1, 2018, would additionally require a coroner, when he or she receives information that indicates that the cause of death is due to a Schedule II, III, or IV drug, to provide that information, including whether the decedent was undergoing treatment for a terminal illness or chronic condition, if known, to the Medical Board of California on a form provided by the board and developed in consultation with the California State Coroners' Association. The bill would require that this form be submitted within 90 days, or as soon as possible, once the coroner's investigation is complete, and would provide that this form is confidential. By increasing the duties of county officers, this bill would create a state-mandated local program. Existing law requires that any complaint against a physician and surgeon that is determined to involve quality of care meet certain criteria before it is referred to a field office for further investigation, except as specified. This bill, until January 1, 2018, would require that any information received from a coroner pursuant to the provisions of this bill, that may be treated as a complaint against a physician and surgeon and may be determined to involve quality of care, meet these criteria before referral to a field office for further investigation. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.