Death certification reforms

In anticipation of the introduction of the new death certification reforms, all GP practices and healthcare providers are being encouraged to begin testing processes with medical examiner offices to avoid distress and disruption for bereaved people and frontline staff when the new processes become statutory. The government announced that under the new regulations, all deaths will be independently reviewed by either a medical examiner or a coroner, without exception. The changes include a new medical certificate of cause of death, and it will no longer be necessary for the attending doctor to have seen the deceased 28 days before death.