Physician Guidance for Death Certification

Signing of Death Certificates by Primary Care Doctors

Completion of an accurate death certificate is the final act of caring for your patients. A physician who has established a relationship with a patient, and worked with that person to improve his or her health, will have the best understanding of the natural processes that played a role in the patient's death. The cause of death statement on the death certificate is an expression of the physician's opinion as to the most likely sequence of events and contributing conditions that ultimately resulted in death.

Extensive guidance relating to the proper completion of the death certificate has been published by the Centers for Disease Control, the State Medical Board of Ohio, and the National Association of Medical Examiners. The board-certified forensic pathologists at the Franklin County Coroner's Office are also available to assist you with any questions you may have.