What happens if the cause of death is undetermined?

When the cause of death is undetermined, the appropriate procedure is to place a pending status on the death certificate. This status indicates that further investigation or examination is necessary to determine the cause of death before completing the death certificate. This process is crucial to ensure that any potential health or safety concerns are adequately addressed and allows for additional testing or information gathering as needed.

The pending status serves as a formal acknowledgment that the final cause of death has not yet been established. This can involve waiting for autopsy results, law enforcement investigations, or other sources of information that might clarify the circumstances surrounding the death. Once the additional information is received, the death certificate can be finalized with the correct cause of death.