CERTIFICATION OF DEATH BY FAMILY PHYSICIANS

Death certificates are important because morbidity and mortality stati stics often come from death-certification data. These statistics are v ital in developing approaches to disease treatment and strategies for increasing longevity. It is often the primary care physician who is re sponsible for completing the death certificate, for explaining the cau se of death to the family and, if appropriate, for referring some case s to the medical examiner. The primary care physician should have an e xplicit understanding of how to determine the cause and manner of deat h and should use succinct, clear language in completing the death cert ificate, When doubt exists or an external cause of death is a possibil ity, the coroner or the medical examiner is the appropriate public hea lth official to contact.