Signing of Death Certificate

HB-4048, Allison

Current state law allows PAs to pronounce death in Texas; however, they can only sign death certificates in the case of hospice patients they are directly caring for. Since then, PAs have safely been able to certify death with these patients. TAPA is seeking to expand the ability for PAs to sign death certificates in all settings. This ability will prevent any unnecessary delays by having to find a physician who may not have been directly caring for the patient to sign off on death certification simply because the law states so.