Police in Halifax say it's time doctors started letting investigators know when a patient treated at the emergency department is possibly the victim of a crime.

The case of an injured 46-year-old Halifax man who died this week illustrates the need, police say.

Randy Quann was admitted to hospital last Friday. After he died Tuesday night, a medical examiner performed an autopsy and ruled Quann's death was possibly caused by an assault about a week before he sought medical attention.

"At this point we're working backwards," said Theresa Brien, public affairs supervisor for Halifax Regional Police. "We can't interview the victim because he is now deceased."

Police were not notified of any possible assault, nor that Quann was in hospital.

Hospitals in Nova Scotia are under no requirement to notify police about any patient's injuries except when there is a warrant for an arrest or when the patient asks them to do it.

Police say they knew Quann, and investigating his death would have been easier had they known about the case earlier.

"Legislative change is required to make it obligatory for a hospital to call us with such information," Brien said.

Brien said police have already begun talking to hospitals about a possible change, but any decision rests with the provincial Justice Department.

"We'd certainly be willing to sit down and discuss this further with police and take their request under consideration," said Justice spokeswoman Cathy MacIsaac.

As for the Quann investigation, police are asking anyone with information to come forward.