❓ Clarification sought regarding GP certification of deaths at home and reportable death criteria. The Attorney General clarifies circumstances under which a GP can certify a death at home and confirms not all deaths at home are reportable.
AnsweredQoN 4496Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) The Office of the
State Coroner for Western Australia Annual Report 2015-16 , at page 13, provides
an explanation of ‘reportable deaths’ which includes where the cause of death
has not been certified by a doctor in accordance with the Births, Deaths and
Marriages Registration Act 1998 . Where a person chooses to die in their
home as opposed to dying in hospital, palliative care or an aged persons home,
is a General Practitioner able to certify the cause of death if: (a) the General
Practitioner was not present at the time of death; and (b) the dead person was not under the care of the General Practitioner at the time of death? (2) Are all deaths in the
home, reportable deaths?
State Coroner for Western Australia Annual Report 2015-16 , at page 13, provides
an explanation of ‘reportable deaths’ which includes where the cause of death
has not been certified by a doctor in accordance with the Births, Deaths and
Marriages Registration Act 1998 . Where a person chooses to die in their
home as opposed to dying in hospital, palliative care or an aged persons home,
is a General Practitioner able to certify the cause of death if: (a) the General
Practitioner was not present at the time of death; and (b) the dead person was not under the care of the General Practitioner at the time of death? (2) Are all deaths in the
home, reportable deaths?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
17 November 2016
Response time
35 days
(1)
(a) Yes, provided the General Practitioner examines the body in death and is able to certify the cause of death on the Medical Certificate of Death. (b) No, if the deceased person was not under the care of a General Practitioner (with knowledge of the deceased’s medical history) it is highly unlikely a cause of death would be certified and the case would need to be reported to a coroner.
(2) No.
(a) Yes, provided the General Practitioner examines the body in death and is able to certify the cause of death on the Medical Certificate of Death. (b) No, if the deceased person was not under the care of a General Practitioner (with knowledge of the deceased’s medical history) it is highly unlikely a cause of death would be certified and the case would need to be reported to a coroner.
(2) No.
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