Nurse Practitioners Legislation Amendment Act 2026

This section applies if a nurse practitioner—

was responsible for a deceased person’s medical care immediately before the deceased person’s death; and

is able to form an opinion as to the probable cause of death.

The nurse practitioner may give the registrar‑general a cause of death certificate for the deceased person within 48 hours after the deceased person’s death.

However, a nurse practitioner must not give the registrar‑general a cause of death certificate if the nurse practitioner believes on reasonable grounds that—

a doctor or another nurse practitioner has already given the registrar‑general a cause of death certificate for the deceased person; or

the death has been reported to a coroner.

Note 1 A nurse practitioner must not give a cause of death certificate in certain circumstances (see Cemeteries and Crematoria Act 2020, s 42).

Note 2 Deaths must be reported to a coroner in certain circumstances (see Coroners Act 1997, s 77).