Latvia has no deadline for hospitals to notify relatives of a patient's death

Latvian Television's program "4. studija" examined a case in which a woman learned of her father's death in hospital only two days after it occurred. The program's investigation found that Latvian legislation does not set any specific deadline by which medical institutions must notify a patient's relatives of their death.

While hospitals are obligated to report such deaths, the law does not specify how quickly after the death this notification must take place. In practice, this gap can lead to situations where family members learn of a relative's death only after a significant delay.

Inspectorate's advice

Commenting on the issue, the Health Inspectorate said that relatives who suspect hospital staff violated ethical standards in handling such notifications should submit a written complaint to the agency. This would allow the specific case to be reviewed and, if warranted, further action to be taken.

The absence of a clear deadline for notifying relatives remains a relevant concern, since delays can affect families' ability to arrange funeral proceedings and other matters connected to a loved one's death in a timely manner.