Table 3 Classification of types of error in cause of death statement of death certificate

Part I Immediate Cause of Death (ICOD)

Not listed

Inappropriate information

Incorrectly attributed/Trivial conditions

^aMechanism of Death (terminal events)

Such as asystole, cardiac arrest, cardiopulmonary arrest, cardiorespiratory arrest, electromechanical dissociation, respiratory arrest, ventricular fibrillation.

^aMechanism of Death (nonspecific physiologic derangements)

Such as arrhythmia, coagulopathy, congestive heart failure, hepatic encephalopathy, hepatic failure, hypotension, ketoacidosis, multi-organ failure, pneumothorax, pulmonary insufficiency, renal failure, sepsis, shock.

^aNonspecific anatomic processes

Such as anoxic encephalopathy, bowel obstruction, cirrhosis, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, hemothorax, peritonitis, pulmonary embolism, subarachnoid hemorrhage, subdural hematoma.

^aSymptoms, signs, abnormal clinical and laboratory findings

Such as headache, chest pain, dyspnea, asterixis, pain abdomen, hyperkalemia, hypercalcemia

Part I Underlying Cause of Death (UCOD)

^bNot listed

Inappropriate information

Incorrectly attributed/Trivial conditions

Incomplete information

Ill-defined conditions, unspecific and incomplete description of known specific conditions such as neoplasms, infectious diseases, injuries, external causes of death

More than 1 competing UCOD

2 or more unrelated conditions listed

Improper sequence

sequence of events doesn’t make sense, UCOD not listed on the lowest completed line of Part I

Part II Other Significant Conditions (OSC)

Not listed

OSC present but not listed

Inappropriate information

Incorrectly attributed/Trivial conditions

Incomplete information

not all the known significant conditions are listed