NOSOLOGICAL INACCURACIES IN DEATH CERTIFICATION IN NORTHERN-IRELAND -A COMPARATIVE-STUDY BETWEEN HOSPITAL DOCTORS AND GENERAL-PRACTITIONERS

We aimed to audit nosological inaccuracies in death certification in N orthern Ireland and to compare performance of hospital doctors and gen eral practitioners. Nosology is the branch of medicine which treats of the classification of diseases. 1138 deaths were registered in Northe rn Ireland in a 4-week period commencing 3/10/94. 195 of these were ei ther registered by HM Coroners (HMC) or required further investigation by their staff; these cases were excluded from the study. The remaini ng 943 were analysed for wording and formulation inaccuracies accordin g to the revised notes (1974), Northern Ireland Medical Certificate of Cause of Death. These are issued in book form by the Registrar of Bir ths and Deaths. The commonest inaccuracies in death certification occu r in the areas of poor terminology, sequence errors and unqualified mo de. One or more inaccuracies were found in 317 (33.6%) of cases. In 13 of these (4%) cases, the inaccuracies were serious enough to warrant referral by the Registrar of Deaths to HM Coroner. The numbers of gene ral practitioners and hospital doctors were recorded, with general pra ctitioners being responsible for 122 (38%) and hospital doctors being responsible for 195 (62%) of inaccuracies.