Medical Certification Of Cause Of Death: Present Status at a Tertiary Care Hospital In South Western Maharashtra

Dr Ravi Rautji; Dr Sachin Chourasia; Dr K V Radhakrishna

Volume : IX, Issue : III, March - 2019

Medical Certification Of Cause Of Death: Present Status at a Tertiary Care Hospital In South Western Maharashtra

Dr Ravi Rautji, Dr Sachin Chourasia, Dr K V Radhakrishna

Abstract :

Background– Medical certificate of cause of death (MCCD) is issued by a Registered Medical Practitioner for death certification in cases of natural deaths. It is not only an important legal document but also has varied implications – statistically and epidemiologically. Errors in filing up death certificates are not uncommon and these inaccuracies range from incomplete certificates, illegible handwriting and wrong cause/manner of death. This study aimed to find out frequency and type of inaccuracies by medical practitioner at a tertiary care hospital and to suggest remedial measure Method– One thousand MCCD were studied during the two year period (Jul 2012 to Jun 2014). All these certificates were completed by residents working in tertiary care hospital. Results– Out of one thousand MCCD, six hundred and sixty two MCCD were wrongly filled (66.2%). Out of these, six hundred forty nine MCCD had major errors (64.94% of total) and five hundred forty nine (54.9%) MCCD had minor errors. Among wrongly filled certificates, 34.1% of certificates had unacceptable cause of death, followed by 33.3% certificates, where death mechanism was wrongly listed, contending causes (16.7%) and improper sequencing (13.9%). Conclusion– This universal problem of inaccuracies can be curtailed through a elementary but structured educational mediation, such as analysis of the MCCD of each deceased patient during ward rounds and yearly course in certification of death primarily aimed at residents and medical officers, who usually fill up MCCD.