Importance of medicolegal data for national cause of death statistics

OBJECTIVE: The validity of French cause of death statistics largely depends on the transmission of the medical information reported on the dedicated p art of the death certificate. Data referring to death causes are collected and analyzed at the information Department on the cause of death (INSERM SC 8). In major urban areas with one or more forensic institutions, it has bee n observed that the proportion of death certificates indicating ino particu lar cause of death is higher than the national average. We therefore examin ed deaths occurring in 1996 in the Lyons region. METHODS: This retrospective study involved 5,208 deaths recorded in Lyons F rance in 1996. Complementary information on these deaths was obtained from INSERM SC8 and Lyons Medicolegal Institute. RESULTS: It was observed that a large portion of violent deaths occurring i n this city in 1996 (more than 30%) were not recorded appropriately in the national statistics due to a lack of communication after autopsy CONCLUSION: Considering the importance of epidemiology and suicide preventi on in the national public health strategy, improved information transmissio n must be developed in the near future.