Pattern of Filling Up of Medical Certificate of Cause of Death at A Tertiary Care Hospital during Covid Pandemic: A Matter of Concern

Abstract

Medical Certification of Cause of Death- MCCD, plays an important role in deciding the direction of public health programs, provide a feedback system for future implementation of health policies, health planning and management of epidemiological studies, vital statistics, medico-legal investigations, census studies, health research, assessment of effectiveness of public health programs. As Covid- 19 produces so much confusion into the mind of treating doctor as how to give cause of death in MCCD. Certification and classification and coding of death related to Covid-19 is essential for smooth contact tracing afterwards. Our study focused on the analysis of MCCD proformas filled up by residents and faculty members and common mistakes committed while filling it while treating the Covid patient at isolation wards. This is a retrospective, cross sectional study carried out at Covid-19 dedicated hospital associated with a Medical College situated in Rajasthan. The period of this study is three month of early Covid-19 pandemic time from 1st April 2020 to 30th June 2020, in which a total of 199 deaths were reported. We could study a total of 152 certificates (76.38%) out of total 199 deaths as in rest of cases, the MCCD was not attached as deceased was brought dead to hospital. The analytical result of study revealed some major errors like immediate cause of death was Covid-19 positive with cardiovascular arrest. The conclusion of our study highlights an urgent need for imparting extra efforts towards awareness, importance to undergraduates as well as postgraduate training. Also emphasis training of senior and junior faculty with other treating doctors. Suggestions to government for impose strict rules over clinician so that they know the importance of MCCD in pandemic time also.