Administrative Rules of Montana
Department 37 - PUBLIC HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Chapter 37.116 - DEAD HUMAN BODIES
Subchapter 37.116.1 - Embalming and Transportation
Rule 37.116.102 - DEATH OF A PERSON WITH AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE AND NOTIFICATION OF MORTUARY

(1) When a person dies, the person's health care provider, the local coroner who certifies the death, or, if the death occurs in a health care facility, a facility staff member designated by the facility must notify the mortuary receiving the person's body, at the time of transfer of the body to the mortuary or as soon after transfer as possible, whether or not the person had or was suspected of having an infectious disease at the time of death. If the person did have or was suspected of having an infectious disease, the notice must also include what infectious disease the deceased individual had at the time of death and the nature of the disease. A sample form is available from the department's communicable disease control and prevention bureau, which may be used to provide the notice in writing to a mortuary.

(2) If a person has or is suspected by the person's health care provider or the coroner of having an infectious disease at the time of death, the local health officer, immediately after receiving notification of the infectious disease, must inform the mortician or any other person handling the body (before or after death) of that fact and of the appropriate measures which should be taken to prevent transmission.

(3) As soon as reasonably possible following death or the conclusion of further examination required to determine the cause of death, the body of a person who had or is suspected by the person's health care provider, the coroner, or the local health officer of having a viral hemorrhagic fever (lassa, ebola, Marburg, Congo-Crimean) or any other undiagnosable febrile disease occurring shortly after returning from international travel must be placed in a hermetically sealed bag or alternative container, handled only to the extent necessary, and either cremated subject to the restriction in 37-19-705(2), MCA, or buried immediately, unless an exception is granted pursuant to ARM 37.116.105

(4) Whether or not the mortuary receives notice that a deceased person had an infectious disease, blood and body fluid precautions as defined in ARM 37.114.101 must be taken by the mortuary staff in order to prevent transmission of any potential infectious disease to mortuary personnel.

(5) The definitions in ARM 37.114.101 apply to this chapter. A copy of ARM 37.114.101 may be obtained from the Department of Public Health and Human Services, Health Policy and Services Division, Communicable Disease Control and Prevention Bureau, Cogswell Building, P.O. Box 202951, Helena, MT 59620-2951.