Nurses will be able to sign the death certificates of people who die at their homes, as part of a one-year experiment

“Nurses will be able to sign, in addition to doctors, death certificates for the approximately 150,000 people who die each year at home”announced the Minister Delegate in charge of Health and Prevention on the social network, Thursday April 25. A decree was published in the Official Journal, to record this “experimentation” which should allow “simplify and recognize the skills of nurses”. The text also removes “the condition aimed at noting in advance the unavailability of a doctor”specified Frédéric Valletoux.

This experiment will last one year, throughout the country, and concerns both employed and self-employed nurses. Health professionals must have at least three years of experience and follow specific training, already received by 1,217 of them, to exercise this new skill.

“The objective of this experiment is to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability by nurses of establishing death certificates, as well as improving delays for families before possible generalization”, explains Frédéric Valletoux. The Minister Delegate recalled that “certain families often face long waiting times before obtaining the medical death certificate which allows funeral procedures to begin, while they are faced with the mourning of their loved ones”. With this measure, the government hopes “rely on the skills and presence of nurses throughout the country” And “free up medical time” to improve “access to care in the territories”.