Problems With Proper Completion and Accuracy of the Cause-of-Death Statement
Archives of Internal MedicinePublished 22 January 2001
Ann E. Smith Sehdev, Grover M. Hutchins
Citations337
Generate an AI Snapshot to get a quick, structured summary of this paper.
Study Snapshot
ObjectiveStudy objective
MethodsResearch methodology
PopulationPopulation studied
Sample sizeSample sizes
OutcomesStudy outcomes here
ResultsStudy results comes here
LimitationsResearch study limitations comes here
A concise AI-generated summary of the paper will appear here once you click Generate AI Snapshot.
TL;DR
The CODs of the death certificate may be improved if death certificates are completed in conjunction with the postmortem examination and amended when the autopsy findings show a discrepancy.
Abstract
The reliability and accuracy of CODs remain a significant problem. Despite its limitations, the autopsy remains the best standard against which to judge premortem diagnoses. The CODs of the death certificate may be improved if death certificates are completed in conjunction with the postmortem examination and amended when the autopsy findings show a discrepancy.
Keywords
MedicineHealth Professions
New England Journal of MedicineThe Autopsy as a Measure of Accuracy of the Death Certificate
539 Citations1985Tobias Kircher, Judith Kay Nelson +1 more
To determine the extent of agreement on underlying cause of death between death certificates and autopsy reports, randomly selected autopsy reports and corresponding death certificates from among all such data on autopsies performed in Connecticut in 1980 were analyzed.
The Journal of PathologyA prospective study of 1152 hospital autopsies: I. Inaccuracies in death certification
307 Citations1981H. M. Cameron, Euphemia McGoogan
Comparison of certified clinical diagnoses with autopsy findings showed that, while the major cause of death was confirmed in 61 per cent of cases, many diagnoses—both major and contributory—were wrong; many clinical diagnoses were either disproved or relegated to a less important role, and many autopsy findings had not apparently been anticipated.
Journal of Public Health'Inaccuracy' in death certification - where are we now?
186 Citations1996Gillian Maudsley, E. M. I. Williams
The traditional perspective on improving the quality of death certification has not worked and there is a need for reorientated thinking rather than just urging more education, and evidence-based educational interventions are needed.
The Journal of PathologyA prospective study of 1152 hospital autopsies: II. Analysis of inaccuracies in clinical diagnoses and their significance
147 Citations1981H. M. Cameron, Euphemia McGoogan
An analysis of 1152 hospital autopsies provides data on inaccuracies of specific diagnoses; there are many examples of overdiagnosis and underdiagnosis.
PubMedErrors in death certificate completion in a teaching hospital.
82 Citations1993Jordan Jm, Bass Mj
Recurring educational sessions and feedback, if provided in teaching hospitals, could be helpful to increase the accuracy of these important documents.
Archiv für Pathologische Anatomie und Physiologie und für Klinische MedicinThe accuracy of death certificates
75 Citations1991G. Petur Nielsen, Jóhannes Björnsson +1 more
There is a significant discrepancy between autopsy diagnoses and entries on death certificates; disagreement is not due to unavailability of autopsy data at the time of completion of the certificate; and death certificates should be completed or amended utilizing data gained at autopsy.
Journal of Clinical EpidemiologyReliability of death certificate diagnoses
45 Citations1990Mohamed Moussa, Mohamed Shafie +7 more
This bias calls for basing mortality statistics in Kuwait on hospital death committees' reports rather than on initial certifier death certificates, use of multiple-causes of death instead of one underlying cause and adequate training of the medical profession on the value and process of death certification.
The Medical Journal of AustraliaMedical certification of causes of death in an Australian metropolitan hospital: Comparison with autopsy findings and a critical review
44 Citations1993Penelope McKelvie
To compare the causes of deaths recorded on death certificates with findings at autopsy and to identify other deficiencies in the completion of death certificates.
The Medical Journal of AustraliaA comparison of death certificates and autopsies in the Australian Capital Territory
34 Citations1992Grant D H Maclaine, Edward B Macarthur +1 more
To determine the accuracy of death certificates in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) by comparison with autopsy reports, data is collected on death certificates issued in the ACT and those issued after death in the Northern Territory.
PubMedPrinciples for including or excluding 'mechanisms' of death when writing cause-of-death statements.
23 Citations1997Randy Hanzlick
Concepts and refined definitions designed to improve the content of cause-of-death statements regarding inclusion or exclusion of so-called mechanisms of death are developed.
Archives of Internal MedicineProtocol for Writing Cause-of-Death Statements for Deaths Due to Natural Causes
21 Citations1996Randy Hanzlick
A protocol that provides suggestions and guides the clinical practice of writing cause-of-death statements for death certificates, autopsy reports, and other medical documents is described that is expected to foster consistency, accuracy, and completeness in the writing of cause of death statements.
JAMAImproving Accuracy of Death Certificates
21 Citations1993Randy Hanzlick
A small study was conducted to test the idea that review of hospital-based death certificates by a designated physician might be one way to promote correction and amendment of improperly completed death certificates.
JAMAImproving the Accuracy of Death Certificates
14 Citations1995Randy Hanzlick
The suggestion was made that the Uniform Hospital Discharge Data Set (UHDDS) might contain information that could improve or augment the death certificate because the UHDDS is often available quickly after death, it contains a list of diagnoses used for coding a patient's conditions, and it is a telegraphic distillation of the medical record.
Archives of Internal MedicineCase of the Month<subtitle>Making Amends</subtitle>
6 Citations1998Ann E. Smith