Evaluation of the Quality of Death Certification at Ibn Sina Hospital in Rabat: A Prospective Observational Study

Background: The death certificate is a multipurpose document that is fundamentally medico-legal: when the “medico-legal obstacle” box is ticked, it prevents burial until further investigation is completed. Materials and Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 200 death certificates issued at Ibn Sina Hospital in Rabat. Using a pre-established assessment grid and the Jamovi statistical package, we evaluated how certificates were completed. Errors were classified as minor or major in both the editing and medical-analysis sections. Results: All 200 certificates contained errors, most frequently in the medical-analysis section. A single mechanism of death without an underlying cause appeared in 90 % of certificates, and an unacceptable cause of death was recorded in 15.5 % of cases. Conclusion: These findings mirror trends reported in the international literature. Physicians must understand that completing a death certificate is primarily a medical act with legal and social implications. Accurate completion, in accordance with world health organization recommendations, is essential for reliable mortality statistics and public-health planning.