Workflow-Medical Examiner Release (Cremation Clearance)

For methods of disposition requiring a Medical Examiner’s Release Form (cremation, burial at sea, use by medical science/donation, and removal from State) Funeral directors have two processes to choose from within the DAVE System.  (1) Cremation Clearance approval from the Office of Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) and (2) Cremation Clearance approval from a Medical Examiner, both methods are described below for your reference.

1.  Cremation Clearance from OCME
For cases directly involving the OCME and a medical examiners release form is needed, Funeral directors must select “cremation clearance” within the left navigation menu from the DAVE System.  The OCME reviews the request and assigns a medical examiner to review and sign the medical examiner’s release, aka “Cremation Clearance” within the system.  The OCME will accept or deny the cremation clearance request.  For, either outcome, Funeral directors will be notified within the system, and a message will be sent indicating the status.

To obtain the release number, funeral directors will click on the Cremation Clearance under the Other Links menu, and release number will appear under the approval status.  Once a release number has been provided by OCME, Funeral directors can now print the medical examiners release form within the system under “Print forms”.  The top portion of the medical examiners release form will be prefilled with the decedent’s name, date of death, place of death, and type of disposition.  All signature areas must be completed manually, and the ME case number must be written in the top right hand corner of the Medical Examiner’s Release Form.  It is recommended that funeral directors print two medical examiners forms from the system, for use by:  (1) Facility of disposition, (2) Place permit issued.  Within a reasonable amount of time, funeral directors will be requested to scan and attach the Medical Examiner’s Release Form to the death record within the system.

2.  Cremation Clearance approval from Medical Examiner
Funeral directors will now have the option to print a Medical Examiners Release Form from the DAVE System and bring it to their selected Medical Examiner for review and endorsement.  This process is similar to the paper process that is currently done when death records are paper based.  The personal information must be completed within the DAVE System and signed/affirmed by the Funeral Director that started the case.  In the left navigation menu, Funeral directors will select “Print Forms” and then select Medical Examiner’s Release Form.  Once selected, the top portion of the medical examiners release form will be prefilled with the decedent’s name, date of death, place of death, and type of disposition.  Funeral directors can simply print the form and bring it to a preferred Medical Examiner for completion.  It is recommended that funeral directors print two medical examiners forms from the system for:  (1) Facility of disposition, (2) Place permit issued.

Once endorsement has occurred, funeral directors will be requested to scan and attach the Medical Examiner’s Release Form to the death record within the system within a reasonable amount of time.

*Funeral directors: please remember if you are not going through the OCME for a Medical Examiner’s Release Form and you are choosing a medical examiner, DO NOT select the “Cremation Clearance” link in the left navigation menu.  It cannot be disabled and if selected, will still send a message/email to the ME office and will require the OCME to handle the review.