Proper death certification in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic: Forensic perspective.
J Infect Dev Ctries
; 16(6): 966-968, 2022 06 30.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1924350
ABSTRACT
It is well known that the quality of death certificates determines the accuracy of public health mortality data. In the light of a pandemic, forensic pathologists must understand the true definition of a COVID-19 death and the requirements for filling out the death certificate, as these are critical for maintaining accurate and trustworthy mortality data. To determine the scope and evolution of the COVID-19 epidemic, accurate death certification is critical. We believe that COVID-19 should be enlisted under part II or section "note" (if it exists in DC form in a particular country) of the DC in all suicide instances and putrefied bodies with positive autopsy swabs for SARS-CoV-2. In addition to our suggestions for the completion of the DC in some COVID-19 instances, we feel that forensic pathologists should follow the WHO criteria for proper DC completion in COVID-19 cases. Better physician education at this stage of the pandemic would increase adherence to existing (WHO and CDC) standards. As a result, forensic pathologists with competence in death certification could help by teaching treating physicians in this area.
Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Death Certificates
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Observational study
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
J Infect Dev Ctries
Journal subject:
Communicable Diseases
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
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