Death certification. I thought that things may have been better
post-Shipman. The latest scenario is that our community matron is
seeing patinets at home and in nursing homes. As a consequence we are
not seeing as often. I get the feeling that there is going to be
pressure for us to see at least every 2 months or so 'just in case
they are likely to die'!
Patients in there 90s will die in nursing homes and at home. If we are
happy that this is likely to be the case, then why have this major
'fudge' that you have to have seen ideally within 2 weeks, or with
some leeway if the coroner is happy. I am just as likely not to know
the cause of death even if I saw the patient 2 weeks before -
especially if I was not expecting them to die (beyond the fact that
they are elderly) I agree that a PM is likely to cause concern for
relatives, but sometime the fact that they are in nursing homes
requires you to be on the defensive - i.e. you sign a death cert
saying that you are happy, and then a claim of negligence is made
against the NH. Surely we could change the rules so that the coroner
could speak to all concerned first and then say to the GP, everyone is
happy that this was a natural 'old age' death.
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Best Wishes
Paul Bromley
www.floridaholidayvilla.biz
Superb Villa in Orlando with own pool - Free Internet & International
Phonecalls.
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