Completing a Vermont Certificate of Death

Quick Tips

  1. Focus on the basic pathologic condition
    ex. "Atherosclerosis cardiovascular disease" rather than "Congestive heart failure"

  2. Be Concise
    Part I

    Due to, or as a consequence of:
    A. Acute myocardial infarct
    Due to, or as a consequence of:
    B. Coronary Artery athersclerosis
    rather than
    Part I

    Due to, or as a consequence of:
    A. Thrombotic occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery of the heart

  3. Report causes; avoid mechanisms
    Part I

    Due to, or as a consequence of:
    A. Alcoholic cirrhosis
    rather than
    Part I

    Due to, or as a consequence of:
    A. Hepatic Encephalopathy

  4. Do not use medical slang or jargon.
    Part I

    Due to, or as a consequence of:
    A. Cerebral Infarct
    Due to, or as a consequence of:
    B. Athersclerosis Cardiovascular Disease
    rather than
    Part I

    Due to, or as a consequence of:
    A. Stroke

  5. Do not abbreviate
    Remember most users of Death Certificates have not been to medical school and do not understand some common abbreviations.


  6. Be clear, do not convey confusion
    Part I

    Due to, or as a consequence of:
    A. Atherosclerotic cornoary artery disease
    rather than
    Part I

    Due to, or as a consequence of:
    A. Cardiac asystole probably due to heart attack

  7. Avoid vague descriptions (e.g. massive, catastrophic, etc.)
    No one wants to die from a little infarct but these terms give no information.

  8. "Old Age" and undetermined natural causes are OK.

  9. Avoid creating problems or questions
    Part I

    Due to, or as a consequence of:
    A. Perionitis
    Due to, or as a consequence of:
    B. Perforatic colonic diverticulm
    rather than
    Part I

    Due to, or as a consequence of:
    A. Cardiovascular collapse
    Due to, or as a consequence of:
    B. Bowel perforation


  10. Separate primary from contributing causes.
    (part II: Other significant conditions contributing to death but not resulting in the underlying cause given in part I)

  11. Is the case reportable to the Medical Examiner? 1-888-552-2952
    All cases that have non natural contributions, no matter how small or how long ago, must be reported to the Medical Examiner. It is better to ask first than to not report. More details

  12. Please print legibly in black ink.
    A good cause of death statement means nothing if it is illegible.

  13. Clearly print your name below your signature.