ABERDEEN, Miss. (WTVA) — New this year to Mississippi's coroners and physicians.
As of January first, they are required to check a box on death certificates if smoking contributed to the person's death.
Monroe County Coroner Alan Gurley says the Mississippi State Department of Health now requires this information.
"As coroners and death investigators, we go out and investigate a death. We will have to find out if the person smoked or not and whether the smoking actually was a contributing cause to their death. So, it's a little something different-a little more information we'll have to ask for when we go out on a call," Gurley said.
Lee County Coroner Carolyn Green says the information is used for statistical purposes and often helps the State Department of Health acquire grant money.
On a separate note, Gurley say Mississippi is in the process of going to an electronic death certificate.
He says everything will be online.
