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Multilingual Demographic Dictionary, second unified edition, English volume

Medical certificate of death

Multilingual Demographic Dictionary, second unified edition, English vol.
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Medical certificate of death  (MEDICAL certificate of death)


Mortality statistics are generally compiled from death registration (cf. 211). When a death takes place a death certificate 1 is generally issued; statistics are compiled from the information given on death certificates. In some countries a distinction is made between the medical certificate of death 2 issued by a medical practitioner who has attended the deceased person at the time of his/her death, and an ordinary death certificate issued by the registrar of deaths for legal purposes.

  • 1. The first death statistics in England and Wales were compiled from bills of mortality which were generally drawn up on the basis of burial registers. In countries where vital registration is deficient, statistics can be gathered by the survey technique; questions may be asked on deaths during a reference period, generally the previous year; the indirect estimation of mortality relies on such questions as the number of children surviving among children ever born (637-2), reporting of sibling deaths, orphanhood status or widowhood status.

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