Cite this page: Harle L. Death certificate. PathologyOutlines.com website. http://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/forensicsdeathcertificate.html. Accessed April 22nd, 2019.
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
