Review of medical certificates of cause of death
I18Review of medical certificates of cause of death
1
A medical reviewer must review any medical certificate of cause of death—
a
referred under section 24A of the 1965 Act, or
b
in respect of which an application has been made under section 4(1) (other than one which has been rejected as vexatious under section 4(3)).
2
In conducting a review, the medical reviewer may—
a
examine the health records of the deceased person to whom the certificate relates,
b
seek the views of the medical practitioner who attested the certificate,
c
make enquiries of any other person who the medical reviewer considers may have information about the health of the deceased person (for example, a member of the deceased person's family, a carer or a nurse),
d
make such other enquiries and examine such other things as the medical reviewer considers appropriate.
3
Following a review under subsection (1) the medical reviewer must come to a view on whether the certificate is in order.
4
For the purposes of this Act, a certificate is in order where a medical reviewer is satisfied, on the basis of the evidence available to the medical reviewer, that—
a
the cause (or causes) of death mentioned represents a reasonable conclusion as to the likely cause (or causes) of death, and
b
the other information contained in the certificate is correct.
5
The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make further provision about the review of certificates including, in particular, action to be taken by medical reviewers when conducting a review or by senior medical reviewers when conducting a further review.