It is the responsibility of the family or law enforcement agencies to announce a death in most instances. HIPAA has been interpreted to indicate that death is a "general condition." Under HIPAA, hospitals are expressly forbidden to disclose a patient's death and date or time of death to the media. However, if the patient has agreed to be listed in the hospital directory, the fact that the patient died may be disclosed.

Information on the cause of death can be given only by the family or by the physician, with approval by members of the patient's family.

If the death becomes the object of the coroner's examination, media inquiries as to the cause and circumstances of death should be directed to the medical examiner's office.

The determination of whether or not a death is a suicide is not within the province of the hospital to determine or release. A coroner is usually the qualified authority for rendering such a judgment. The hospital spokespersons should never release statements asserting suicide or attempted suicide as a reason for hospitalization or death of a patient.