Deaths Reportable

The following types of deaths are reportable to the Boulder County Coroner's Office at (303) 441-3535.

1. All patients who expire within 24 hours of admission to a hospital.

2. All deaths in which a physician is not in attendance or has not been in actual attendance of the decedent within 30 days prior to death.

3. All deaths that occur in a Hospital Emergency Department.

4. All traumatic, chemical or violent deaths; deaths due in part to trauma, chemicals or violence, whether apparently homicidal, suicidal or accidental, including but not limited to deaths due to mechanical, thermal, chemical, electrical, or radiation injury; maternal deaths due to abortion, whether apparently induced or not. The length of time between injury and demise does not alter the need to report a death. For example, if someone sustains a fractured hip, is treated, and dies three months later, the death should still be reported. If a person dies of pneumonia after being hospitalized in a nursing home for injuries sustained five years ago in an auto accident, the death is still a Coroner's case.

5. All deaths occurring in a Hospital Operating Room.

6. All deaths associated with diagnostic or therapeutic procedures.

7. All deaths in which the attending physician is unable to certify the cause of death.

8. All deaths due to an unexplained cause or under suspicious circumstances.

9. All deaths suspected to be due to infections or contagious disease wherein the diagnosis and extent of disease are undetermined at the time of death.

10. Any sudden death of person in apparent good health. Deaths of individuals who were in the custody of law enforcement officials or who were incarcerated in a public institution.

Every death which occurs outside of a hospital or nursing home is reportable to the Coroner's Office.

Any death in which there is doubt as to whether or not it is a Coroner's case should be reported.