Death Certificates Flashcards
What is the only cause of death a physician can fill out on a death certificate?
Natural (HS)
Why are death certificates reviewed before a body is cremated?
Because any mistakes made, or anything missed, cannot be fixed after the body is gone. (HS)
T or F: Cardiac Arrest is a standalone cause of death.
AR
False
Who can certify a death certificate?
AR
Doctors, physcian assistant (PA), Nurse practioners (NPs), & Coroner/ME
T or F: Only the Coroner/ME can certify non-natural causes of death (suicide, accidental, homicide, undetermined).
AR
True
T or F: medical professionals (e.g. physicians) cannot complete the Injury section of a death certificate.
AR
True
T or F: You do not need to indicate how long a cause of death was occurring prior to death
AR
False
What are the main components of Death certificates
Demographics
Family info
place/date/time of death
Cause of Death
Manner of Death
Certifier Information
(NA)
True or false: Only coroners/ME can certify non-natural causes of death?
True, only medical professionals can write natural on a death certificate
(NA)
How is cause of death read?
Line A is due to Line B which is due to Line C which is due to Line D
(NA)
True or false: Line D on a death certificate is the underlying reason for everything above it?
True
(NA)
What are some common mistakes on a death certificate?
Incorrect order
Listing only the mechanisms of death
Unrelating conditions/timeline
Listing non-fatal conditions
(NA)
True or False: Death Certificates are the last legal document someone ever has.
True, this is also why they are some of the most important documents we fill out.
(KW)
True or False: death certificates can be altered/changed after they have been certified if there was a mistake identified on them.
False, they are permanent legal documents that cannot be changed after they’ve been certified and completed.
(KW)
Why is accuracy important when discussing death certificates?
Many reasons, however statistics relating to public health, and evaluations to improve citizens’ health, both rely on accurate data, including that which comes from death certificates.
(KW)
Why might a death certificate be of importance to the family of the decedent?
It may help them in their grieving process to know what truly happened to them, and it may also be needed for insurance or other after-death purposes.
(KW)
What are some things that a death certificate may be needed for as proof of death?
Real estate sales, life insurance, bank account transfers/closings, retirement paperwork, taxes, etc.
(KW)
