Death certification

The Scottish Government has written guidelines on completing the MCCD in publication SGHD/CMO(2018)11.

You should have covered the basics of writing an MCCD during induction and training. If there is any doubt on how to complete a certificate you can ask for senior help. Further it would be wise to read the guidance above, as well as the NES page on MCCDs. The National Records of Scotland also has more information on MCCDs.

Remember, these are legal documents and must be completed correctly and concisely. If still completing a paper form, you should use block capital letters with no abbreviations and no scoring out of causes of death.

As of 20th January 2025, electronic MCCDs are completed on TRAK.

More information and training can be found on the intranet: http://intranet.lothian.scot.nhs.uk/Directory/eHealth/Training/TRAKCourses/eMCCDTraining/Pages/default.aspx

Please note whilst the documentation can be entered within TRAK, the responsible person has to print it. Once the MCCD has printed from TrakCare the certifying doctor MUST sign the certificate. The current process for sending the signed MCCD to National Registrars of Scotland should be followed (see below).

(This section has information pertinent whilst we are transitioning to eMCCDs).

The death certificate (MCCD) book is kept in the locked cupboard in the prep room. The NIC keeps the keys for this. The MCCD book must be replaced in this cupboard immediately after use.

We must document clearly what has happened at the time of death.

There are 2 TRAK short codes that will help with this:

• \deathver
• \deathcert

It is especially important that once death certification has been completed, that the causes of death are recorded on TRAK as they have been written on the MCCD certificate.

All death certificates should be discussed with the consultant in charge. The consultant in charge must be happy with what is written on the death certificate, as legally the patient will have been under their care.

If you wish to have some clarification on if what you are certifying is acceptable, there is a service you can use for advice before referring to the Procurator Fiscal: the Death Certification Review Service can be contacted on 0300 123 1898.

However note this service is not for patients where you are unclear what to write (i.e. discuss with the responsible consultant first), or if you have to report the death to the procurator fiscal service.

In summary: not the relatives

Death certificates are no longer given to relatives. The way in which deaths are registered was changed in 2019.

What happens now, and what relatives should be advised, is that the death certificate is taken to our Bereavement Office (mortuary). The mortuary scan it to the chosen Registry office and the Registry office then contact the relatives.

Relatives can request a copy of the death certificate by emailing our Bereavement Office. All this information and relevant paperwork is contained in Bereavement Packs which are kept in the disposal room in the red zone.

This summarises what to do when an old paper MCCD is filled in incorrectly.

In this case do not throw the form in the bin. Score it through, write that it has been written incorrectly, and sign and date it on both sides. Also document this on the counterpart. Keep the "destroyed" form with the MCCD book. As a legal document, this needs to be accounted for and returned to the records office.

There are certain deaths where medical practitioners cannot issue a death certificate. This includes suspicious deaths, unnatural causes of deaths, or deaths where we cannot issue a certificate. This is not a complete list, and you can read more on the different categories of death to be reported at the Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service website here: https://www.copfs.gov.uk/publications/reporting-deaths/.

These deaths should be discussed with a consultant, and if in agreement, should be reported to the Procurator Fiscal using the guidelines in the paragraph above.