Introduction
Certification of death shall be given either by a fully registered medical practitioner or Investigating Officer (I.O).
For all dead bodies classified as Police Cases, the Police shall be notified and clearance shall be obtained before release of the bodies.
The Forensic Assistant Medical Officer (AMO) on duty or the AMO on duty of Emergency Department is responsible for the release of the body from the mortuary to the claimants after verifying all relevant details pertaining to the deceased and claimants of the body.
Recognition Of The Body
Recognition of the body will be done by the next-of-kin. For Police Cases, recognition of the body will be carried out with relevant police personnel.
Claiming The Body
The following details of the claimants shall be documented into Borang Pengendalian Mayat and the Death Registration Book; or the Forensic Medicine Information System (FMIS):
- Name of the claimant
- Identification / Passport No.
- Address of Claimants
- Relationship to the Deceased
- Date and Time of Release to the Claimant
All deaths shall be issued with:
Hospitals shall not be held responsible for any untoward incidences once dead body has been claimed.
Last Rites
The claimants shall make their own arrangement for the process of performing the funeral rites in accordance with the respective religious bodies and transportation of the body.
Hospitals only provide room facilities for the performance of the last rites by the claimants.
The forensic/hospital staff shall not be involved in the procedures of last rites including escorting the body during transportation.
M.O.H does not provide embalming services.
Death Registration
The claimants are advised to register the death for issuance of Death Certificate at the Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara within 3 working days after date of death by bringing along the:
For registration of deaths in Sabah. the claimants need to bring along the:
For registration of deaths in Sarawak, the claimants need to bring along the:
Release Of Dead Body Of Foreigners
The related High Commission/ Embassy needs to be notified for issuance of confirmation on the status of nationality of the deceased prior to releasing the dead body to the claimants/appointed representatives.
The claimants shall make their own arrangement with the funeral operators based on the available Garis Panduan Pengimportan Atau Pengeksportan Mayat Atau Manamana Bahagiannya (Edisi Pertama) 2006.
Ensure that the respective High Commission/Embassy/Consulate is notified prior to repatriation of the foreign national dead body.
Reference
- Surat Pekeliling Ketua Pengarah Kesihatan Malaysia Bil. 10/2012 Standard Operating Procedures of Forensic Medicine Services Reference No. KKM87/P1/34/8 Jld 4 (76) dated 22 Februari 2012
Last Reviewed | : | 23 August 2019 |
Writer / Translator | : | Salina bt. Hisham |
Accreditor / Reviewer | : | Dr. Khoo Lay See |