Korean J Leg Med.  2014 Nov;38(4):139-144. 10.7580/kjlm.2014.38.4.139.

The Discrepancy of the Cause and Manner of Death between Death Certificates and Autopsy Reports

• Kim HG
• Park JW
• Cho WY
• Seo JH
• Choi CH
• Na JY

• KMID: 1928007
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7580/kjlm.2014.38.4.139

Abstract

Both death certificates and postmortem examination certificates are used as proof of death. These certificates sometimes contain erroneous information but how frequently they do so is unknown. In particular, only a few studies have measured the accuracy of the cause and manner of death on Korea death documents. In this study, we compared the cause and manner of death on both kinds of certificates with those on autopsy reports to determine the frequency of errors, and to identify way to improve the accuracy of these certificates. In 2012, 528 autopsies were requested of out institute, and certificates were submitted in 241 of the cases. The manner of death was classified as natural, unnatural, or unknown. The cause of death in the autopsy report matched that on the death certificate in 37 of 63 cases (58.7%), and the manner of death matched in 40 of 63 cases (63.5%). The cause of death in the autopsy report matched that on the postmortem examination certificate in 62 of 178 cases (34.8%), and the manner of death matched in 74 of 178 cases (41.6%). Death certificates and postmortem examination certificates are important documents. We identified many incorrect reports of causes and manners of death on both kinds of documents, especially the postmortem death certificates. These inaccuracies are presumably due to a lack of forensic information and education, as well as lack of interest on the part of medical doctors.

Keyword

Autopsy; Cause of death; Death certificates

MeSH Terms

Autopsy*
Cause of Death
Death Certificates*
Education
Korea

Reference

References

1. Medical law. Article 17 [Internet]. Seoul: The National Assembly of the Republic of Korea;2013. [cited 2014 Nov 1]. Available from:. http://likms.assembly.go.kr/law/jsp/law/Law.jsp?WORK_TYPELAW_BON&LAW_ID=A1549&PROM_NO=12069&PROM_DT=20130813&HanChk=Y.

2. Korean Medical Association. Written instructions of a medical certificate. Seoul: Korean Medical Association;2003. p. 9–10.

3. Na JY, Min BW, Lee YJ, et al. The discrepancy of the causes of death between medical death certificates and autopsy reports. Korean J Leg Med. 2009; 33:10–8.

4. Na JI, Lee YJ, Kim HS, et al. Discrepant causes of death between medical death certificates and autopsy reports (II). Korean J Leg Med. 2012; 36:27–33.

5. Kang YS, Lee KR, Park IC, et al. Survey of the causes of death on the death certificates of DOA patients. J Korean Soc Emerg Med. 2001; 12:385–92.

6. Ok TG, Cho JH, Park CW, et al. A study of the investigative method of cause of death for making out a death certificate. J Korean Soc Emerg Med. 2006; 17:245–53.

7. Yun JJ. Forensic medicine. Seoul: Korea Medical Publisher;1995. p. 8–9.

8. Roulson J, Benbow EW, Hasleton PS. Discrepancies between clinical and autopsy diagnosis and the value of post mortem histology: a meta-analysis and review. Histopathology. 2005; 47:551–9.