Cause of death Flashcards
what happens when someone dies>
- physically confirm death
- issue a death certificate
- if not able to certify, refer to the procurator fiscal (coroner)
issuing a death certificate
- can only be done by a GMC registered medical doctor
- legal obligation (Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages (Scotland) Act 1965)
- no fee payable
After death certified..>
- relatives have to take death certificate to registrar’s office
- certificate of disposal given
- if cremation - cremation certificate needed
Legal systems
- Procurator Fiscal (SCO)
- HM Coroner elsewhere
Procurator Fiscal
- prosecution of crimes
- investigation of deaths
- not involved with the most serious of crimes
Coroner
- limited to investigation of sudden and unexpected deaths
- no role in investigating/prosecuting crime
coroner
additional role in investigating deaths where person not seen by doctor in past 14 days
- holds inquests (Scotland holds FAI’s)
- has to pass onto CPS if criminal case
coroner’s inquest
- conducted entirely by the coroner
- sits with jury (deaths at work or in custody)
- 1 of 9 verdicts will be determined
Verdict
natural causes, suicide, accident/misadventure, industrial disease, dependence on drugs, lack of care, lawful killing, unlawful killing, open
Causes of death in Scotland
- natural causes
- alcohol abuse
- suicide
- accident
- drug abuse
- homicide
- other
Natural disease
Cardiovascular disease
- heart disease
- coronary artery disease
Coronary artery disease
- common cause of death
- causes chronic electrical instability
- amenable to bypass surgery
Pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE)
- involves the veins
- related to deep vein thrombosis (lower limb)
- embolism passes to the lungs - can’t breath
- blocks blood vessels
Cerebral haemorrhage
2 types:
- Intra-cerebral
- Subarachnoid
Stroke
-cerebrovascular accident (CVA)
2 causes:
1. cerebral haemorrhage
2. cerebral infarct
Sudden death
- Ischaemic heart disease
- Hypertensive heart disease
- PTE
Less rapid?
- myocardial infarction
- rupture aortic aneurysm
- acute asthma
- epilepsy
Fire related deaths
- red blistering with marginal zone
- more severe - stiff, leathery
- can be completely charred/destroyed
- bone may be blackened/brittle
fire related deaths
- muscle contracures -‘pugilistic attitude’
- skin splits - esp. extensor surfaces
- 30-50% of body surface
- less in vulnerable groups
- death from secondary problems
Burns
1st degree = epidermis damaged
2nd degree = full thickness (epidermis + dermis)
3rd degree = epidermis, dermis + subcutaneous (down to bone)
