Official State of Rhode Island website

State of Rhode Island Department of Health

Death and Dying

The Department of Health supports individuals and families and connects them to resources as they plan for their own death or cope with the death of a loved one.

Services

Information is available for individuals, families, and loved ones about hospice care and organ donation. Local bereavement organizations may also help with the grieving process.

Programs

The Center for Vital Records registers, files, and maintains death records, issues copies of death certificates, and publicizes death data. The State Center for the Office of the Medical Examiner screens deaths for public health significance and performs autopsies. The Center for Professional Licensing oversees the licensing and regulation of Funeral Directors funeral directors and embalmers.

What You Need to Know

Advance Directives

Discussions of end of life issues are difficult. These talks can, however, help patients make sure that they will be treated as they wish.

Autopsies

An autopsy is an intricate post-mortem medical procedure often requiring complex laboratory tests. It includes examination of all major organs to document injury and/or disease.

Bereavement

When a loved one dies, the recovery process is slow and emotionally painful.

Funeral Directors/Embalming

This is license information about Embalming / Funeral Directing

Funeral Planning

Planning a funeral is a difficult and emotionally stressful process.

Hospice Care

Hospice provides care to terminally-ill patients who are in the final stages of their lives and to patients in the progressive stages of a life-threatening illness.

Medical Orders about Life-Sustaining Treatment (MOLST)

Medical Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (MOLST) are instructions to follow a terminally ill patient's wishes regarding resuscitation, feeding tubes and other life-sustaining medical…

Information For

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Death And Dying Information For Healthcare Professionals

Rhode Island law requires physicians, as defined by the Rules and Regulations Governing Vital Records, to sign death certificates, but it is silent on the issue of pronouncement of death.

Death And Dying Information For Loved Ones

Funeral Planning, Living Wills, Hospice Care, Bereavement, Organ Donation, Autopies

Data

Death Records, Leading Causes of Death Purpose
Death Records, Leading Causes of Death
Our purpose is to register deaths occurring in Rhode Island and to Rhode Island residents whenever the death occurs.

Resources

Forms

Forms | Request

Instructions, Manuals, Procedures

Forms | Authorization

Reports | Annual

External Resources

Details | Data

Data

Resource | Lists

Web Pages