Question: What happens when someone dies in a hospital or nursing home?

Answer: When they register your loved one upon admittance to the hospital, the hospital registration department will go through a series of questions, of which they will inquire as to the funeral home of your preference. Obviously, we hope for the best when our loved one is admitted, but unfortunately complications arise and difficult times are ahead for your family. When death occurs, the nurse will notify your loved ones physician. If their attending physician is unavailable, they will notify the on call physician. In the State of Wisconsin, a licensed registered nurse can also make pronouncement of death, if the attending physician or the on-call physician is not immediately available. Upon completion of a series of tests for death, the nurse or doctor will mark/note the time of death. Therefore, in some cases the time of death that is listed is not the actual time of death, but when pronouncement was made. The nursing staff will then notify the family member(s) they have on file. In some cases, members of the family will want to come to say goodbye. This is natural and a part of the healing process and is perfectly fine for those who would like to come. However, sometimes it is better to wait to see your loved one after the funeral director has had the opportunity to finish the embalming preparations for the viewing/visitation. After the family members have been notified and arrived at the hospital if they so choose to come, the nursing staff will ask permission to contact the funeral home of your selection. The funeral director will then come to the hospital, and if the family is still present will speak to your family on what to expect over the course of the next few days. When your family is ready, the funeral director will bring in a gurney to place your loved one on to make the transfer back to the funeral establishment. If the family decides not to wait until the funeral director arrives, the hospital will provide the name and phone number of the primary contact person to them. The funeral director will then call to set a time to discuss the funeral arrangements.

Question: When is the Brown County Medical Examiner involved in a death?

Answer: The Brown County Medical Examiner is contacted by the Nursing staff or physician under special circumstances.
a.) If the death occurs within 24 hours from the time of admittance to the time of death.
b.) If your loved has not been seen by an accredited physician within the last 30 days from the time of death.
c.) If the death occurred after a fall or an injury, whether at home or in the hospital even if the fall or injury was not the immediate cause of death.
d.) Death with unexplained circumstances.
e.) Deaths involving motor vehicle, snowmobile, all-terrain vehicle or boat.
f.) Death due to poisoning
g.) Homicides/ suicides (includes homicide due to acts of bioterrorism)
h.) Death following abortion
i.) Death of a correctional inmate
j.) When, after reasonable efforts, the physician cannot be obtained or will not sign the death record in time or in an emergency situation.
k.) Death reportable under individual county Coroner/M.E. policies

Some people are confused when they are informed that the Brown County Medical Examiner is notified. Rest assured, this is nothing to be alarmed at. The hospital staff wants to make sure that every procedure was properly followed with respect to your loved one. In some instances and if warranted the Brown County Medical Examiner will take jurisdiction and work with your loved ones family doctor to help certify and verify the cause of death. They do so without any intrusion to the privacy and dignity of your loved one.

Question: Do we need to have embalming performed to have a funeral?

Answer: Firstly, Embalming is NOT a law in the State of Wisconsin nor required by the state. However, depending upon the type of funeral selected, it might be required from the funeral establishment or the cemetery. For instance, if your family wishes to have an open casket for a viewing and visitation, the funeral director will ask permission to perform this procedure. The main reason that this is requested is for public health. The body undergoes certain changes, of which are a natural part of the dying process. Therefore, the performance of embalming helps to temporarily preserve your loved one in order to have a viewing so you can remember your loved one in a more natural and relaxed state. Also, if someone died with a communicable or contagious disease, the health protection of your family and the visitors who may call is extremely important. In addition to this, from a cemetery stand point it might be a requirement if the method of disposition selected is entombment.