Medical Certificate of Cause of Death
◆
When someone dies, one of the first pieces of paperwork in the legal process is the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD). It records the medical cause of death and is needed before most deaths can be registered.
What is an MCCD?
The MCCD is completed by a registered medical practitioner who cared for the person during their lifetime and is able to establish the cause of death. It records the illness, disease or condition that caused or contributed to the death. The MCCD is not the same as the death certificate. The MCCD is completed by the medical practitioner. The death certificate is a certified copy of the death registration, obtained from the registrar after the death has been registered.
What happens after the MCCD is completed?
For deaths that are not being investigated by the coroner, the MCCD is reviewed by an independent Medical Examiner. The Medical Examiner checks the proposed cause of death and gives the family an opportunity to ask questions or raise any concerns. Once the review is complete, the Medical Examiner's office sends the MCCD to the registrar so the death can be registered.
When might the death be referred to the coroner?
A medical practitioner may need to refer the death to the coroner if:
- The cause of death is unknown.
- The death may have been violent or unnatural.
- The death may have resulted from an injury or accident.
- The person died while in custody or other state detention.
- There are other circumstances that mean the coroner needs to investigate.
If the coroner investigates, the usual registration process is different and the family may have to wait until the coroner has completed the necessary enquiries.
What does this mean for the family?
The MCCD is part of the process that allows the death to be registered. You do not normally need to obtain the MCCD yourself — the medical practitioner and Medical Examiner deal with it as part of the death certification process. If you have questions about the stated cause of death, you can raise them with the Medical Examiner during the review. Information applies to England and Wales and reflects the current death certification process.