Abstract
This study aimed to analyze the errors and their causes in inappropriately completed death certificates, and to suggest improvement measures. The death certificate is an important medical document that proves the cause and manner of death. However, a death certificate is not as valuable as a medical document, since many death certificates are inappropriately completed and thus provide inaccurate information. We reviewed 307 death certificates issued by the Emergency Room of Chung Nam National University Hospital between January 1, 2015, and November 31, 2016, and compared their details with the cause and manner of death in the patients' medical records. Among various errors, the most common was “omission of other significant information not related to the cause of death” (184 cases). On 29 death certificates, the mechanism of death was recorded instead of the cause of death. When comparing death certificates and medical records, discrepancies in the cause and manner of death were found in 13 (4.2%) and 17 (5.5%) cases respectively. Although the contents of a death certificate may vary according to a physician's point of view, multiple errors on death certificates should be avoided, and we suggest necessary improvement measures.
Figures and Tables
References
1. Korean Medical Association. How to write and issue medical certificates. Seoul: Korean Medical Association;2015. p. 34–53.
2. Jang JS, Jang SJ, Choi BH, et al. A statistical analysis of legal autopsies performed in Korea in 2014. Korean J Leg Med. 2015; 39:99–108.
3. Kim KS, Lim YS, Rhee JE, et al. Problems in completing a death certificate. J Korean Soc Emerg Med. 2000; 11:443–449.
4. Statistics Korea, Korean Medical Association. A guide to death certification leaflet series III. Statistics Korea. Daejeon: 2011.
5. Statistics Korea, Korean Medical Association. A guide to death certification leaflet series IV. Daejeon: Statistics Korea;2014.
6. Lee YS, Park WS, Park SG, et al. How to write death certificate. Seoul: Pacific Publisher;2003. p. 27–45.
7. Ohk TG. A study on the investigative method of cause of death for making out a death certificate [thesis]. Chuncheon: Kangwon National University;2006.
8. Kang YS, Lee KR, Park IC, et al. Survey of the causes of death on the death certificates of DOA patients. J Korean Soc Emerg Med. 2001; 12:385–392.
9. Kim HG, Park JW, Cho WY, et al. The discrepancy of the cause and manner of death between death certificates and autopsy reports. Korean J Leg Med. 2014; 38:139–144.
10. Raje MG. Evaluation of errors and its etiological relevance with variables associated with death certificate. J Indian Acad Forensic Med. 2011; 33:50–56.
11. Choi JS. Review of incomplete and inaccurate death certificate in a regional hospital [thesis]. Jeonju: Chonbuk National University;2011.
12. Ministry of Health and Welfare. A study on the evaluation of the quality of death statistics and its improvement methods. Seoul: Ministry of Health and Welfare;2003. p. 2–13.