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Review
. 2015 Jun;13(2):74-82; quiz 83-4.
doi: 10.3121/cmr.2015.1276.

Principles and Pitfalls: a Guide to Death Certification

Erin G Brooks  1 , Kurt D Reed  2
Affiliations
Review

Principles and Pitfalls: a Guide to Death Certification

Erin G Brooks et al. Clin Med Res. 2015 Jun.

Abstract

Death certificates serve the critical functions of providing documentation for legal/administrative purposes and vital statistics for epidemiologic/health policy purposes. In order to satisfy these functions, it is important that death certificates be filled out completely, accurately, and promptly. The high error rate in death certification has been documented in multiple prior studies, as has the effectiveness of educational training interventions at mitigating errors. The following guide to death certification is intended to illustrate some basic principles and common pitfalls in electronic death registration with the goal of improving death certification accuracy.

Keywords: Cause of death; Death certification; Death record; Electronic death registration; Manner of death.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
U.S. Standard Certificate of Death.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Fax attestation for medical certification.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Example illustrating the importance of specificity in death certification.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Example illustrating the importance of identifying cause not mechanism in death certification.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Example showing detail for a best medical opinion of cause of death when the chain of events leading to death are not clear.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Example showing the underlying cause of death listed on the last line of Part I.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Example to illustrate injuries, as underlying cause of death, have no statute of limitations.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Example illustrates cause of death due to therapeutic complications.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Example illustrates cause of death from a chronic disease underlying acute presentation of illness.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. Physicians’ handbook on medical certification of death, Hyattsville, Md.: Government Printing Office, 2003. DHHS publication no. (PHS)2003–1108.
    1. Hanzlick RL. Medical certification of death and cause-of-death statements. In: Collins KA, Hutchins GM, eds. Autopsy Performance and Reporting. 2nd ed Northfield, IL: College of American Pathologists; 2003. 287–303.

    1. Wisconsin State Legislature. Wisconsin Statute. Medical Certification § 69.18(2)(b) (2013–2014).

    1. Wisconsin State Legislature. Wisconsin Statute. Penalites § 69.24(1)(c) (2013–2014).

    1. Pritt BS, Hardin NJ, Richmond JA, Shapiro SL. Death certification errors at an academic institution. Arch Pathol Lab Med 2005;129:1476–1479. - PubMed

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