Death Certification in NHS Lothian

There are many useful resources on completing the medical certificate of cause of death (MCCD) in Scotland which we have shared below. The most up to date guidance can be found on the NHS Lothian intranet using the link below this text.

Remember to complete the death registration form with the MCCD which collects important details from the next of kin who will be registering the death. At most sites, this form should be handed in with the MCCD to the mortuary.

All patients must have an immediate discharge letter completed, using the backslash \deathcert. This should be authorised at time of completion to ensure it is sent to the GP in a timely manner to enable the GP to access through their clinical inbox. If a clinical discussion is required, this could be followed up with a telephone call.

You may wish to review our related pages on Palliative Care, which can be found within "Trainee Resources".