Module 1 Introduction
What is the Medical Certificate of Death?
The Medical Certificate of Death is a form that serves as a legal record of the death of an individual. It includes particulars about the deceased person, such as their name, date of birth, place of death, and cause and manner of death. It also indicates whether an autopsy will be conducted. The certificate must be completed to obtain a burial permit and for insurance purposes (Public Legal Education Association [PLEA], n.d.).
The Medical Certificate of Death
- Serves as legal documentation that the named person is deceased and therefore accuracy is extremely important.
- Provides information about the deceased (name, sex, date of birth and death, Saskatchewan health number, and place of death).
- Provides information that may be used to evaluate the cause, manner, and circumstances of death (as it relates to insurance, and genetics).
- Provides information that may be used by provincial and federal governments, public health agencies or researchers to plan or fund programs designed to analyze, reduce or prevent deaths (e health Saskatchewan, n.d.).