Common errors in the completion of death certificates in teaching hospitals in northern Iran: A legal challenge.

Background: The proper completion of death certificates (DCs) is of paramount importance for physicians, as they serve as vital medico-legal documents. The information contained within these certificates holds great significance in health statistics, as it serves as a crucial tool for epidemiological research and analysis.
Methods: This study comprises a descriptive cross-sectional analysis of all DCs issued in 2019 for approximately 1104 deceased patients at a teaching hospital in Mazandaran Province, in northern Iran. To conduct this research, a checklist was implemented, which contained comprehensive categories, including essential public information, and the primary and underlying causes of death (UCOD).
Results: The results of this study indicate that out of the 618 cases of deceased individuals, 273 (44.2 %) were women and 345 (55.8 %) were men. Notably, a total of 61 cases (9.9 %) exhibited an error in the writing of the primary cause of death (COD). Specifically, the UCOD was erroneously recorded as cardio-pulmonary arrest in 13.2 % of all DCs, thus resulting in an error in the main COD.
Conclusion: The findings of this study disclosed a high incidence of errors in the completion of DCs, particularly in the determination of the UCOD, which is universally recognized as the most critical aspect of these documents.
Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have no competing interests to declare.
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