New York Consolidated Laws, Public Health Law - PBH § 4143. Deaths without medical attendance; registration

1. In case of any death occurring without medical attendance, it shall be the duty of the funeral director, undertaker or any other person to whose knowledge the death may come, to give notice of such death to the coroner of the county, or if there be more than one, to a coroner having jurisdiction, or to the medical examiner.

2. When notified of any death occurring without medical attendance, the coroner or medical examiner shall immediately investigate as provided by law and shall certify as provided in subdivision three.

3. The coroner or medical examiner whose duty it is to investigate the death and to execute the certificate of death, shall state in such certificate the name of the disease causing death, or if from external causes, the means of death; whether probably accidental, suicidal or homicidal; and shall, in any case, furnish such information as may be required by the commissioner in order to classify the death.

4. In case of any death occurring without medical attendance in the county of Erie, it shall be the duty of the undertaker or other person to whose knowledge the death may come, to notify the medical director of such death, and when so notified the medical director shall immediately investigate and certify as to the cause of death and shall, if he has reason to believe that the death may have been due to an unlawful act or neglect, cause a proper investigation and certification in accordance with the provisions of this section.