Under Florida Statute 382.011, a primary or attending physician death is defined as someone who was treated or attended by a physician in the last ____ months.

• A. 6
• B. 12
• C. 18
• D. 24

Answer: (B)

The key idea is how the law defines who is considered the primary or attending physician for death certification. Florida Statute 382.011 uses a one-year window: the physician must have treated or attended the decedent within the last twelve months. This duration ensures the physician has an ongoing relationship and access to the patient’s medical history, enabling a credible determination of the cause of death and proper certification. It also prevents someone who only met the patient briefly near the end of life from being labeled the attending physician. If no physician had that kind of ongoing contact in the prior year, other procedures or authorities come into play for certification.