Commentary on Sections Review of medical certificates of cause of death Section 10: Action following unsatisfactory review: medical reviewer
33.Section 10 sets out the next steps if the medical reviewer is not satisfied that a medical certificate of cause of death is in order. The medical reviewer must inform the doctor who certified the cause of death, giving reasons for his or her view, and invite the doctor to replace the certificate with one which takes account of the reasons why the medical reviewer considers that the original certificate is not in order, thus allowing the medical reviewer to then approve the certificate and notify the registrar. However, if the certifying doctor issues a replacement certificate which the medical reviewer considers is not in order then he or she must refer the review to the senior medical reviewer.
34.The certifying doctor may decline to issue a replacement certificate. In such cases the medical reviewer may be persuaded in discussion with the doctor that the cause of death does, after all, represent a reasonable conclusion as to the cause of death or that the other information on the form is in fact correct. In such instances the medical reviewer can then decide to approve the certificate. If not persuaded, the medical reviewer must refer it to the senior medical reviewer.