ANALYSIS OF MEDICAL CERTIFICATION OF DEATHS BY TRAUMA IN CHILE

Background: Trauma in the third cause of death in Chile and the most i mportant among youngsters. Aim: To analyze the certification of deaths by trauma, Studying those deaths in which it is not known if they wer e accidental or self inflicted. Material and methods: Deaths certified as caused by trauma, poisoning or violence during the per-led 1992-19 94 are analyzed. Those in which their accidental or self inflicted nat ure was ignored were specially considered. Results: During the study p eriod, 26.886 f 225.796 deaths were certified as caused by trauma, poi soning or violence. In 41.7% of these deaths, no defined cause (accide ntal or self inflicted) was reported) was reported. In the Metropolita n region 65.3% of deaths by trauma were lot defined. Ninety seven perc ent of certificates in this area were extended by pathologists or coro ners. In all health services, there was a positive correlation between the percentage of ill defined deaths by trauma and the percentage of certifications by pathologists or coroners. Conclusions: The deficienc y in certification of deaths by trauma is possibly due to administrati ve causes and precludes the study of deaths caused by accidents, viole nce or suicide in Chile and its comparison with other countries. An ef fort should be done to solve this problem.