Policy responses and statements
- Name of organisation:
- General
Register Office for Scotland
- Name of policy document:
- Consultation on the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death
- Deadline for response:
- 4
January 2011
Background: The
Deputy Registrar General wrote to the College about a proposal
to make changes to the medical certificate of cause of death (MCCD),
and invited comments on the proposed changes.
The existing MCCD (appendix A)
and a draft of the proposed new version (appendix B) were circulated. In
particular, the College was asked to note that the General
Register for Scotland Office is adding to the MCCD the Community
Health Index (CHI) number and the certifying doctor’s General
Medical Council reference number.
In addition, and in anticipation
of further changes that might flow from the Certification of Death
(Scotland) Bill currently being considered by the Scottish Parliament,
the General Register for Scotland Office has made provision for a
counter signature by a second doctor, and for information to be provided
in respect of the handling of the deceased person’s body.
The timing of any changes is likely
to be determined by the implementation timetable for the provisions
contained in the Bill.
COMMENTS ON
GENERAL REGISTER OFFICE FOR SCOTLAND
CONSULTATION ON THE MEDICAL CERTIFICATE OF CAUSE OF
DEATH
The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (the College) is pleased
to respond to the General Register Office for Scotland’s consultation
on the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death.
The College welcomes moves to amend the medical certificate of cause
of death (MCCD) by:
- including the deceased’s Community Health Index (CHI) number;
- including the certifying doctor’s General Medical Council
reference number;
- making provision for a counter signature by a second doctor (in
preparation for the changes that may flow from the Certification
of Death (Scotland) Bill; and
- requiring the certifying doctor to provide information to inform
the handling of the body, including specifying whether the body poses
a public health risk and whether a pacemaker or other device is present.
The information regarding registration of the MCCD raises the issue
of how and when relatives or other relevant persons will be advised
of the potential for a review of the death certificate to take place,
as proposed in the Certification of Death (Scotland) Bill. Whilst
the College is not suggesting that this responsibility should necessarily
fall on the General Register Office, it is imperative that this issue
is suitably addressed.
Copies of this response are available from:
Lesley Lockhart,
Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh,
9 Queen Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 1JQ.
Tel: 0131 225 7324 ext 608
Fax: 0131 220 3939
[15 December 2010]
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