MEDICUS MARCH 2016

Medical Certificate Cause of Death Guidelines for Medical Practitioners

These guidelines are created for Medical Practitioners when interacting with Funeral Directors caring for a deceased and their family The purpose of a Medical Certificate Cause of Death (‘Death Certificate’) The Medical Certificate Cause of Death is an important legal document, the completion of which:  is a statutory obligation of the relevant Medical Practitioner under the Births, Deaths and Marriages Act in each State and Territory  is part of the process of legally notifying a death  is required for the interment or cremation of the deceased to occur (unless under coronial investigation) How the Medical Certificate Cause of Death is used Once completed the Medical Certificate Cause of Death has a number of uses including:  forming part of the information required to legally confirm a death, allowing the deceased’s estate to be legally transferred  is a critical part of the chain of validation used by Cemeteries and also required for a Cremation Permit to be obtained  used for statistical and public health purposes by the Australian Bureau of Statistics  allowing family members to understand what caused a death, and to be aware of conditions that may occur to other family members Fee-free service Completion of the Medical Certificate Cause of Death is a statutory obligation and is required within 48 hours of death, and as such a fee for provision is not appropriate Delays in completion of the Medical Certificate Cause of Death A funeral is a critical element of a family’s grieving process, so funeral directors seek to ensure a funeral service is undertaken with the timing and style of the family’s wishes. Delays in completion of the Medical Certificate Cause of Death beyond the 48 hours required under regulations will delay the scheduling of the funeral and the subsequent interment or cremation of the deceased, and so can cause considerable distress to grieving families at a time of significant pain. In summary To allow them to assist the family of the deceased in one of the most critical times of their lives, funeral directors ask medical practitioners to complete the MCCD within statutory guidelines, including completion within 48 hours after death and without a fee and then provide it directly to the funeral director so that they can complete the formalities of disposal and death registration.

Useful resources for more information 

Western Australia Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 1998 Western Australia Department of Health Operational Directive 0462/13 ‘Assessment of the Extinction of Life and the Certification of Death’

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 Australian Bureau of Statistics, Information paper: cause of death certification, Australia 2008. Available at: http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/1205.0.55.001

Australian Funeral Directors Association Limited Level 1, 700 High Street (PO Box 291)

KEW EAST VIC 3102 Phone: 03 9859 9966 Website: www.afda.org.au