New process for the issuing of death certificates

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A new statutory medical examiner system is being rolled out across England and Wales.

What do Medical examiners do?

Medical examiners are senior medical doctors contracted for several sessions a week to provide independent scrutiny of the causes of death, outside their usual clinical duties. They are trained in the legal and clinical elements of death certification processes.

The purpose of the medical examiner system is to:

• provide greater safeguards for the public by ensuring independent scrutiny of all non-coronial deaths
• ensure the appropriate direction of death to the coroner
• provide a better service for the bereaved and an opportunity for them to raise any concerns to a doctor not involved in the care of the deceased

What to expect?

• A phone call from a Medical Examiner’s Officer or Medical Examiner
• To be informed of what has been listed as the cause of death
• The chance to ask questions, raise concerns, or give feedback
• The Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (what you need to register a death formally) to be emailed directly to the Kent Registrar immediately following your phone call

If you have any queries, please get in touch with via email.

Published: Oct 9, 2024