Article 2. Responsibility Of Attending Physician of California Health And Safety Code >> Division 102. >> Part 1. >> Chapter 6. >> Article 2.
(a) The physician and surgeon last in attendance, or in the
case of a patient in a skilled nursing or intermediate care facility
at the time of death, the physician and surgeon last in attendance
or a licensed physician assistant under the supervision of the
physician and surgeon last in attendance, on a deceased person shall
state on the certificate of death the disease or condition directly
leading to death, antecedent causes, other significant conditions
contributing to death and any other medical and health section data
as may be required on the certificate; he or she shall also specify
the time in attendance, the time he or she last saw the deceased
person alive, and the hour and day on which death occurred, except in
deaths required to be investigated by the coroner. The physician and
surgeon or physician assistant shall specifically indicate the
existence of any cancer as defined in subdivision (h) of Section
103885, of which the physician and surgeon or physician assistant has
actual knowledge.
(b) A physician and surgeon may designate, one or more other
physicians and surgeons who have access to the physician and surgeon'
s records, to act as agent for the physician and surgeon for purposes
of the performance of his or her duties under this section, provided
that any person so designated acts in consultation with the
physician and surgeon.