Procedure No.:   20.001

Page No.:        1,2 and 3 of 3

Date Issued:     07/01/87

Issued By:       J. S. Rudy

PURPOSE

To provide a University response to incidents involving deaths or serious injury or illness that arise involving Ohio University students. Particular focus is placed on providing the needed communication between offices concerned with accurate and sufficient information concerning the emergency.

PROCEDURE

Deaths

1. Off-Campus:

If an Ohio University student dies while off campus and not participating in a University-sponsored activity, the University will have the following responsibilities:

a. If the student is brought to Hudson Health Center or O'Bleness Hospital D.O.A., the Director of Student Medical Services will notify the Vice President for Administration and the Dean of students, who will notify the President, the University News Services, and the Director of Residence Life (if the student resided in a residence hall).

b. Investigation of the cause of death and notification of parents is the responsibility of the Coroner or other appropriate public official and the Dean of Students will contact the student's parents, guardian or spouse (after the Coroner has given permission) on behalf of the University.

c. University News Services will cooperate with the news media and rumor control and/or with investigating agencies to provide basic public information regarding the student.

2. On-Campus:

If a student dies on campus or off campus at a University-sponsored activity, the following procedures will apply:

a. If the death occurs in the residence halls, the residence life staff member shall immediately notify the Director of Residence Life, who shall notify the Security Office, the Director of Residence Services, and the Dean of Students. The Dean of Students shall notify the President, the Vice President for Administration, and the University News Services. The Security Office shall contact the Coroner and make an investigation of the death, if appropriate, and report to the Vice President for Administration and the Dean of Students. With the Coroner's permission, the Dean of Students will notify the parents, guardian or spouse and the University News Services of the details involved. The University News Services will release information regarding the death.

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b. If the death occurs in the Hudson Health Center, on campus, or O'Bleness Hospital, the Director of Student Medical Services shall immediately notify the Vice President for Administration and the Dean of Students and the Coroner, if appropriate. The Dean of Students shall notify the President and the University News Services. With the Coroner's permission, this notification shall further consist of: the fact of death, the student's name, and cause of death, if known. If the Coroner is involved, the Director of Student Medical Services will cooperate with the Coroner to determine the cause of death and request an autopsy, if he feels that it is appropriate. He will also prepare a report, after authorization by the Coroner, when necessary for the Dean of Students and the President setting forth the circumstances surrounding the death that are not "communicative acts" that may have resulted from the physician/patient privilege of confidentiality, unless a waiver is obtained from the deceased student's parent or guardian in the case of a minor student. If the death is a result of any unnatural cause or particularly a result of a gunshot or knife wound, burn, drug overdose, criminal abortion, or other acts of violence, the report will also be forwarded to the Security Office to assist in any investigations. Also, the Dean of Students will notify the parents, with the permission of the Coroner.

c. If a death occurs elsewhere than the residence halls, Hudson Health Center, or O'Bleness Hospital, University personnel should notify the Security Office. The Security Office will notify the Vice President for Administration, the Dean of Students, and the Coroner, if appropriate. The Dean of Students shall notify the President and the University News Services. With the Coroner's permission, the Dean of Students shall notify the University News Services and other appropriate offices of the details involved. The Security Office will conduct an investigation as to the circumstances and cause of death for the Vice President for Administration, the President, and the Dean of Students. The Dean of Students may notify the parents with the Coroner's permission.

Medical and Other Emergencies

1. Medical Emergency:

If a student is injured or is involved in a medical emergency (such as auto accident, fall, fire, birth, fight, etc.) and is treated at the Hudson Health Center or O'Bleness Hospital, the Director of Student Medical Services, if in his judgment the situation is of a public nature that may

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involve investigation by the news media and/or law enforcement agencies or is of such consequences that the President and the Dean of Students should be aware of it, shall notify the Dean of Students. This notification shall consist of the circumstances surrounding the emergency, but not privileged 'communicative acts" unless a waiver is obtained from the student or his/her parents or guardian if the student is a minor. The Director of Student Medical Services, in consultation with the Dean of Students, may also notify the Security Office, if in his judgment that would be appropriate, and the Dean of Students may notify the University News Services, the Director of Residence Life, and other appropriate offices and contact the student's parents or guardian, if he deems it appropriate.

2. Other Emergencies:

If there is an emergency on campus other than a solely medical one or in conjunction with other emergencies, all University staff members will notify the Security Office, their immediate supervisor, and the University News Services. The Security Office will notify all appropriate officials. Such emergencies would include fires, floods, disturbances, and, if appropriate, the President will authorize the emergency plan to go into effect.

University News Services

In all emergency situations of any nature in which the media expresses or is expected to express an interest, the University News Services will be contacted and kept informed of developments by the President and/or Vice President for Administration and the Dean of Students, as well as provide guidance on what information may be released.

In all cases of medical emergencies or deaths, the name of a student will not be released without the Coroner's permission and parents or next of kin have been notified, if at all possible.

Deaths of Non-Students, Faculty or Staff

Deaths of non-students, faculty or staff will be responded to through applicable procedures above, including notification of appropriate public officials.

Dick Piccard revised this file (http://www.ohiou.edu/policy/s20-001.html) on April 23, 2007.

Please E-mail any comments or suggestions to "policy@ohio.edu".