Citation

Richaud-Eyraud E, Gigonzac V, Rondet C, Khireddine-Medouni I, Chan-Chee C, Chérié-Challine L, Ludes B, Rey G. Rev. Med. Leg. 2018; 9(1): 1-9.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.medleg.2017.11.001

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

AIM: An overview on forensic institutes' practices and drafting of death certificates, in particular in case of suicide, was realized with the aim to implement a supplementary form to the death certificate.

METHODS: A phone survey was conducted in 2016 with French forensic institutes by Santé publique France and Inserm. The questionnaire was focused on forensic institutes' activities, organization, data recording and death certification.

RESULTS: Thirty forensic institutes participated. In case of suspicion of suicide, one forensic institute in six estimated that an autopsy is always or very often conducted. Numerous forensic institutes computerized data and coded causes of death. Main limitations to complete death certificates were: the lack of understanding of the relevance of this practice (46 %), the worry to duplicate notifications of deaths and to bias mortality statistics (27 %), the refusal to remove forensic obstacle instead of the magistrate (15 %), the ignorance of the interest for public health (11 %).

CONCLUSIONS: This study underlined the necessity to homogenise forensic institutes' practices in order to improve the quality of forensic data for use in public health. It emphasized the urgent need of a complementary form to the death certificate, which could add specific information on suicides. © 2017 Elsevier Masson SAS

Language: en

Keywords

suicide; Suicide; Autopsy; autopsy; France; public health; cause of death; forensic medicine; Cause of death; death certificate; Article; Death certificates; Forensic medecine