Death Certification Reforms in September 2024 – What You Need To Know
The death certification system in England and Wales is changing on 9th September after remaining unchanged for 50 years. Until now, a person’s death has been certified by a medical practitioner or investigated by the coroner.
Following various public inquiries and reports into the process, the new system requires an independent review to be carried out for all deaths in England and Wales, by either a coroner or a medical examiner.
What are the death registration changes?
Under the new legislation, after a person passes away, a medical practitioner is required to complete a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) before the death can be formally registered with a registrar.
A medical examiner will then scrutinise the MCCD and give the deceased’s family an opportunity to ask questions and raise any concerns. The medical examiner will also review the deceased’s medical records and work with doctors in completing the MCCD, ensuring accuracy and highlighting any concerns about the deceased’s care prior to death.
The MCCD is then sent to the registrar by the medical examiner, rather than the medical practitioner as used to be the case. The deceased’s representative will be notified of this, and they can then contact the registrar to arrange registration of the death within 5 days.
Whilst the new system may increase the timescales for registering a death, it will ensure that all deaths in England & Wales are independently examined, providing peace of mind for the deceased’s loved ones.
If you need any help or advice on the process of estate administration, contact our expert Legal Executive Lynsey Oxley by email at lynsey.oxley@brmlaw.co.uk or by phone on 0114 6987467.
