Rules on Medical Certification of Cause of Death

Death Certificate

The form used for the declaration of facts and circumstances surrounding the death of a person for purposes of registration, as prescribed by the Philippine Statistics Authority

Certifier

a licensed physician authorized by law to certify the fact of death or fetal death and to certify the circumstances (accident, suicide, homicide, natural causes) and the specific disease, injury, or other cause(s) of death

Death

The permanent disappearance of all evidence of life at any time after live birth has taken place, or the postnatal cessation of vital functions without capability of resuscitation.

Medical Certification of Cause of Death

the completion by a licensed physician of the medical certification of the death certificate.

Verbal Autopsy

a process for determining the most likely cause of death based on the responses of reliable family members and/or person/s who has knowledge of the death to a series of structured questions regarding signs and symptoms experienced by the deceased before his death.

Certificate of Fetal Death

The form used for the declaration of facts and circumstances surrounding the death of a fetus for purposesof registration, as prescribed by the Philippine Statistics Authority.

Death in Emergency Room

refers to deaths of patients at ER, including those who are dead-on-arrival and patients who were revived by initial resuscitative measures at the ER but eventually died there, regardless of the time of stay in the Emergency Room/Department

Death Under Medico-Legal Investigation

A case of death under investigation by the Philippine National Police, National Bureau of Investigation, or other investigative agency of the government where the body of the deceased is subject to autopsy or examination by medico-legal officers.

Dead-on-Arrival

Patients brought to a health facility without cardio-pulmonary and brain functions, including patients who did not respond to initial resuscitation and patients with signs of Rigor Mortis, Livor Mortis, Algor Mortis but EXCLUDING cases of decapitation not susceptible for resuscitation and patients brought in an advanced state of decomposition

Fetal Death

the death prior to the complete expulsion of a product of conception, irrespective of the period of pregnancy. The death is indicated by the fact that after such separation, the fetus does not breathe nor show any other evidence of life, such as the beating of the heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord, or definite movement of voluntary muscles.

Emergency Room Officer

the physician-on-duty in the Emergency Department/Room in a health facility (e.g. pediatric department, OB-GYN department etc.)

Health Facilities

A building or physical structure that has amenities, equipment, and staffing for the delivery of healthcare services

Hospital/Clinic Administrator

for the purpose of this Order, a licensed physician who is charged with the day-to-day administration and/or management of the health facility.

In-facility death

refers to a death, which occurred in a health facility, including an emergency room death.

International Classification of Diseases

refers to the version currently adopted and implemented by the Department of Health.

Out-of-facility death

refers to a death, which occurred outside of a health facility such as in a home, in public areas, buildings, and moving conveyances

Last Attending Physician

The licensed physician who attended to the deceased during their last illness immediately prior to their death. Otherwise, the licensed physician who has treated the deceased through examination, medical advice, or medications within the 12 months preceding the death.

Local Health Officer

refers to the provincial, city, or municipal health officer appointed by the relevant local government pursuant to Sections 443, 454, and 463 in relation to Section 478 of the Local Government Code.

Local Civil Registrar

The person in-charge of filing and accepting all registrable certificates and documents, affecting the civil status of persons, presented to them for entry.

Medical Attendance

refers to the presence of medical help or medical service by a licensed physician during the last illness immediately prior to his death or within the 12 months preceding death.

Medically attended death

the deceased was attended by a licensed physician during his last illness immediately prior to his death

Medically unattended death

the deceased was not attended by a licensed physician during his last illness immediately prior to his death or within the 12 months preceding death.

Medico-Legal Officer

any licensed physician within the Philippine National Police (PNP), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), or from any governmenthealth facility, who specializes or is involved primarily with medico-legal examination. Also known as medical Jurist, medical examiner, or medico-legal expert.