Identifying the cause of death
(Medical Certification of Cause of Death (MCCD)​

Unit 1 Learning activity 10

The information collected during MCCD                                              is valuable and has multiple uses 

Uses of Medical  Certification of Death

 

1.   It is useful both at the individual level as well as at the                         population level​

 

2.   It also helps to deal with the family of the deceased ​

​3.  Death certification has statistical purposes

 

 

4.  The certification of death also has juridical purposes

  1. It is useful both at the individual level as well as at the population level

 

  • Individual level - Learning from deaths helps us as doctors to be better equipped to identify complications and alter the natural history of the illness to prevent death, where possible at the individual level

 

  • Population level - At the population level, such information is useful for health planning and organizing health services (in terms of health care professionals, infrastructure, drugs/equipment, etc.) for a city or state or country. Such valuable information comes from death certificates.

2. It also helps to deal with the family of the deceased by effectively communicating the course of the illness and the cause of the death. The art and science of helping people with their grief may be outside the scope of this e-course but at the minimum open communication by the doctor with the family will help in the process of bereavement.  

3. Death certification has statistical purposes

 

Collation of data helps in calculating death rates, case-fatality rates, proportional mortality rates, etc for a disease entity or for populations

4.The certification of death also has juridical purposes

 

A person has legal existence between the recorded timings of birth and death. Proof of death may help the family in acquiring death certificate, solatium, pension, assets, etc.

You have come to the end of Unit 1 of Module 1

SUMMARY OF UNIT 1: INTRODUCTION TO COD

 

 1. Causes of death differ in different settings

 

 2.Certifying death by a medical officer comprises of two                            components:

 

  • Certifying the fact of death (or declaring dead) &

 

  • Identifying the cause of death                                   [Medical Certification of Cause of Death (MCCD)]

 

SUMMARY OF UNIT 1: INTRODUCTION TO COD

 

Uses of MCCD include

 

  • Learning for clinical management at the individual level and for health planning and organization at the population level

 

  • Dealing with family of the deceased by effectively communicating the course of the illness and the cause of death
  • Statistical and juridicial purposes of death certification     


In Unit 2 you will learn about 

'Ascertaining the Cause of Death'

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