Confirming and registering the death
Confirmation by a doctor or nurse of the cause of death
When can doctors and nurses issue a certificate of cause of death?
Burial and Cremation Act 1964, s 46AA-46B
If a person has died after an illness or due to some other natural cause, usually the doctor or nurse who has been caring for them will issue a “Certificate of Cause of Death”. The body can’t be buried or cremated without this certificate. (This certificate isn’t a “Death Certificate” – a Death Certificate is issued by Births, Deaths and Marriages after you’ve officially registered the death with them).
If the deceased had been ill, the doctor or nurse can’t issue the cause of death certificate unless they’re satisfied the death was a natural consequence of the illness.
Usually doctors and nurses can’t issue a certificate of cause of death for an accidental death, and instead have to report it to the coroner. An exception applies when a person over 70 dies after an accident. In these cases, the doctor or nurse can issue a certificate so long as the accident resulted from physical problems linked to the person’s age, the death wasn’t suspicious or unusual and the death wasn’t caused by someone else.
Once the doctor or nurse has issued their certificate, the deceased’s body can be released to the family, so that they can prepare for the funeral. The family can move the body to a funeral home or to their own home if they prefer.
