(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.

(Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 303, Sec. 339. (AB 731) Effective January 1, 2016.)