Certification of Death (Scotland) Act 2011 Explanatory Notes

Referral of medical certificates of cause of death for review

Section 5: Stay of registration of death pending review

22.Section 5 amends section 25B of the 1965 Act. The purpose of this section is to ensure that the registrar does not complete the registration of any death where the certificate of cause of death has been referred for review under the provisions in section 24A of the 1965 Act or where an application for review has been made under section 4 prior to the death being registered.

23.Registration must usually be suspended until the review has been completed. In certain circumstances, however, a medical reviewer may confirm that it is appropriate for the registration process to proceed prior to the review being completed (see sections 6 and 7). This is the process set out in section 6 which may apply in certain circumstances where speed is of the essence.

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