Phoenix lawmaker wants state law to ensure heat-related deaths are properly documented

An Arizona lawmaker wants new legislation to ensure that heat-related deaths are properly documented.

An investigation by ABC15 this month shows dozens of people who died in Maricopa County from heat-related causes may not have their deaths counted in heat-death statistics. Phoenix Democrat Analise Ortiz said the entire state needs a standardized operation for documenting heat deaths:

“I'm exploring different ways we can change policy to make sure we are accurately counting deaths,” Ortiz said.

The Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office said in a statement to ABC15 that the office “rigorously” investigates heat-related deaths and the forensic pathologists “use their best medical judgement.”

The office didn’t immediately respond to a request for clarification from KJZZ.

“Unfortunately, a lot of the people who were not counted as heat-related deaths were people who were homeless, and that is just heartbreaking, I mean every single person who lives on the street their lives matter, they’re human beings,” Ortiz said.

Last year was the first year that heat-related deaths slightly decreased in over a decade.

Heat-related deaths include deaths where the person died directly from environmental causes, and deaths where heat was a contributing factor. In Arizona, many of these deaths occurred outdoors.