decedent

Unprofessional conduct by licensed dental hygienist includes the failure to report to the Dental Hygiene Committee in writing within seven days: (1) the death of his or her patient during the performance of any dental hygiene procedure; (2) the discovery of the death of a patient whose death is related to a dental hygiene procedure performed by him or her; or (3) except for a scheduled hospitalization, the removal to a hospital or emergency center for medical treatment for a period exceeding 24 hours of any patient as a result of dental or dental hygiene treatment.

A registered dental hygienist shall report to the Dental Hygiene Committee all deaths occurring in his or her practice with a copy sent to the Dental Board if the death occurred while working as an employee in a dental office. A dentist shall report to the dental board all deaths occurring in his or her practice with a copy sent to the committee if the death was the result of treatment by a registered dental hygienist.

Every professional liability insurer, self-insured governmental agency, or licensee (or counsel) must file a complete report of any settlement or arbitration award over $30,000 emanating from a claim for death or personal injury caused by the licensee's alleged negligence, error, or omission in practice, or by his or her rendering of unauthorized professional services, if the license was granted by either the Medical Board of California, the Osteopathic Medical Board of California, or the California Board of Podiatric Medicine.

Unprofessional conduct by a licensed dentist includes the failure to report to the Dental Board the death of a patient related to the performance of any dental procedure; or the unexpected removal to a hospital or emergency center for medical treatment for a period exceeding 24 hours of any patient as a result of dental treatment. Upon receipt of such a report, the board may conduct an inspection of the dental office if deemed necessary.

No copy, reproduction, or facsimile shall be made of any photograph, negative, or print, including instant photographs and video tapes, of the body of a deceased person, taken by or for the coroner at the scene of death or in the course of a post mortem examination or autopsy, except for criminal proceeding or by order of court.

The information filed with the state teachers’ retirement system in a beneficiary designation form may be released after the death of the member or participant to those persons who may provide information necessary for the distribution of benefits.

There is no privilege of physician-patient communications relevant to an issue between parties all of whom claim through a deceased patient.

There is no privilege of psychotherapist=patient communications relevant to an issue between parties all of whom claim through a deceased patient.

There is no psychotherapist-patient privilege regarding a communication relevant to the intention of a deceased patient pertaining to a deed of conveyance, will, or other writing claiming to affect a property interest.

There is no psychotherapist-patient privilege regarding a communication relevant the validity of a deed of conveyance, will, or other writing claiming to affect a property interest executed by the deceased patient