1. 1. Upon the death of a patient, the county medical examiner shall conduct a preliminary investigation as required by section 218.64, in accordance with section 331.802.

2. 2. If a patient in a mental health institute dies from any cause, the superintendent of the institute shall within three days of the date of death, send by certified mail a written notice of death to all of the following:

   1. a. The decedent’s nearest relative.
   2. b. The clerk of the district court of the county from which the patient was committed.
   3. c. The sheriff of the county from which the patient was committed.
   4. d. The regional administrator for the county from which the patient was committed.

[C73, §1439; C97, §2303; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §3516; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §226.34] 2008 Acts, ch 1187, §136; 2015 Acts, ch 69, §47