Analysis of errors in medical certificates of cause of death (MCCD) at a tertiary care institute in 2022

Medical Certificates of Cause of Death (MCCD) play a pivotal role in shaping national health statistics and public health initiatives. This study investigates the quality of MCCD completion at a Tertiary Care Institute in India, focusing on certification errors made by physicians while issuing death certificates. Using a retrospective, cross-sectional approach, 1603 MCCDs issued during the study period were analyzed for formal correctness and mistakes. The study employed predefined categories to assess the nature and impact of these errors. While this research did not verify the factual accuracy of the MCCDs against patients’ medical records, it categorized errors into major and minor, based on their potential to influence the accurate classification of the underlying cause of death. The study showed the presence of errors in all 1603 death certificates examined, categorizing them as major, minor, or both. Notably, 99.2% of cases lacked the mention of the time interval between death and the morbid condition. Analysis of major errors indicated that in 64.6% of cases, competing causes of death were mentioned, while 77.4% featured multiple causes of death. Furthermore, improper sequencing of the cause of death was identified in 11.2%, whereas 7.9% had poorly defined conditions as the cause of death. To improve the quality of healthcare data and public health management, these findings highlight the necessity for precise MCCD reporting and the significance of comprehending mortality patterns. For informed decision-making and changes to the healthcare system, addressing the found errors and patterns is essential.