Death certificate

Forensic pathology
General
Death certificate

Author: Lindsey Harle, M.D. (see Authors page)

Revised: 12 January 2017, last major update February 2012

Copyright: (c) 2012-2017, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.

PubMed search: death certificate [title]

Cite this page: Death certificate. PathologyOutlines.com website. http://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/forensicsdeathcertificate.html. Accessed December 15th, 2018.

Purpose

To legally document that death occurred
To provide mortality statistics for public health purposes, which influences allocation of funding for research and public health initiatives

Certifier of death

Physician, medical examiner, or coroner who completes the "cause of death" section on the death certificate, including information regarding the circumstances of death
Cause of death and circumstances represent the certifier's opinion
Not legally binding, and can be changed if new information regarding the death is introduced

How to complete the death certificate

The cause of death should always be listed
If an acute mechanism of death is known, this can be stated as the primary cause of death; the underlying cause of death should always be listed below

Examples:

Incorrect cause of death: Respiratory arrest
Correct cause of death: Complications of pneumonia or respiratory arrest due to pneumonia
Incorrect cause of death: Cardiac arrest
Correct cause of death: Acute myocardial infarction or cardiac arrest due to acute myocardial infarction