Death Certification Guidelines

Guidelines for Death Certification

When certifying a death it is important to remember that the cause of death statement on the death certificate is a medical opinion based upon the information available to the certifier.

It is also important to remember that only a coroner or deputy coroner can certify a death which is not natural in manner. If an external factor (such as a drug or trauma from a fall) led to death, the death is not natural and must be reported to the Coroner’s Office.

More Information

• Detailed information concerning death certification is available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Physicians’ Handbook on Medical Certification of Death.
• Basic principles in writing cause of death statements are discussed on the National Association of Medical Examiners website.