Medical audit and death audit.

ABSTRACT

A good death is not a single event; a good death is a series of events, relationships and preparation that takes place over time (Evans and Walsh, 2002). [1] There is no gold standard for what constitutes a good death, the definition varies between individuals and therefore quality care must be negotiated to incorporate the individual patient values and preferences (Steinhauser et al, 2000).[2] Death audit meetings are infrequent in Government hospitals in India to analyse the circumstances which led to death of patients and what are the possible steps if taken might have prevented the death(Times of India 2004).[3] Medical audit determines the quality of medical care provided to patients from analyzing the clinical records and hospital services. In the present article we have given Idea about history, purpose, and maintenance record and analysis process. Government is planning to make infant and maternal death audit by clinical team compulsory as a part of efforts to ensure that no women and child will died in state (Andhra Pradesh) in want of medical attention (The Hindu 2010).[4]