Advice for GPs about completing a death certificate

Yes.

Have you discussed the case with the Medical Examiner?

You're required to provide a cause of death and issue a death certificate (under the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953) if:

• you're a registered medical practitioner
• you were in attendance during the deceased's last illness

You need to state the cause of death to the best of your knowledge and belief. The doctor who attended for the last illness and completed the MCCD must be the same doctor.

Unless the death is unnatural, entirely unknown or has occurred in a custodial setting it is preferable that MCCDs are issued promptly to allow families to immediately register their loved ones’ death.

You can issue a death certificate if you are a registered medical practitioner, and you were in attendance during the deceased's last illness.

The medical practitioner must have seen the deceased face-to-face within the 28 days prior to death – including video consultation, or viewed the body in person after death (including for verification), and to be able to state the cause of death to the best of their knowledge and belief.

Not having seen the patient within 28 days is not a reason in itself to refer to the coroner. By not viewing after death in this situation will result in the registrar refusing the MCCD and associated additional distress to the family of the deceased. We encourage you to view after death and indicate this on the death certificate by circling statement A.

If a cremation is to take place, the body of the deceased must be viewed. Please do not release the death certificate to the family until this has been done.

You can issue a death certificate if you are a registered medical practitioner, and you were in attendance during the deceased's last illness. The medical practitioner must have seen the deceased face-to-face within the 28 days prior to death – including video consultation, or viewed the body in person after death (including for verification), and to be able to state the cause of death to the best of their knowledge and belief.

If your colleague attended the patient last and this was outside of 28 days they must view the body. By not viewing after death in this situation will result in the registrar refusing the MCCD and associated additional distress to the family of the deceased. This must be indicated on the death certificate by circling statement A.

If a cremation is to take place, the body of the deceased will need to be viewed by the medical practitioner who issued the MCCD. Please do not release the death certificate to the family until the body has been viewed.

No, do not include any abbreviations on your MCCD.

You should report to the Coroner any death that cannot readily be certified as being due to natural causes.

(A) The registered medical practitioner suspects that the person's death was due to—

1. poisoning, including by an otherwise benign substance;
2. exposure to or contact with a toxic substance;
3. the use of a medicinal product, controlled drug or psychoactive substance;
4. violence;
5. trauma or injury;
6. self-harm;
7. neglect, including self-neglect;
8. the person undergoing a treatment or procedure of a medical or similar nature; or
9. an injury or disease attributable to any employment held by the person during the person’s lifetime;

(B) The registered medical practitioner suspects that the person's death was unnatural but does not fall within any of the circumstances listed in sub-paragraph (A);

(C) The registered medical practitioner—

1. is an attending medical practitioner required to sign a certificate of cause of death in relation to the deceased person; but
2. despite taking reasonable steps to determine the cause of death, considers that the cause of death is unknown;

(D) The registered medical practitioner suspects that the person died while in custody or otherwise in state detention;

(E) The registered medical practitioner reasonably believes that there is no attending medical practitioner required to sign a certificate of cause of death in relation to the deceased person;

(F) The registered medical practitioner reasonably believes that—

1. an attending medical practitioner is required to sign a certificate of cause of death in relation to the deceased person; but
2. the attending medical practitioner is not available within a reasonable time of the person’s death to sign the certificate of cause of death;

(G) The registered medical practitioner, after taking reasonable steps to ascertain the identity of the deceased person, is unable to do so.

Old age can be used if a more specific cause of death cannot be given, in the absence of any factors that require a Coroner to be informed of the death and the deceased is aged 80 years or over.

The death should be reported to The Coroner's Service if it is believed that the deceased's current or previous employment may have contributed to their death.

Notify the Coroner of the death if you suspect it was due to trauma or injury.

You need to report the death if the deceased:

• suffered a fall before their death resulting in a significant injury which you think contributed to their death
• has sustained a fracture which you think contributed to their death

Contact the local cemeteries office for advice about completing a cremation form.

Doctors can report referable deaths using the secure referral portal below.

The online portal can be accessed using Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge.

Further guidance

• Notification of deaths regulations 2019 guidance on GOV.UK 
• Notification of deaths regulations 2019 legislation on legislation.gov.uk

Immediately call the Police on 101 if a person died in sudden and unexpected circumstances.

Yes. Call 0345 607 2040, option 1 or email coroners.service@suffolk.gov.uk