부검감정서와 사망증명서상의 사인 및 사망의 종류 불일치에 대한 연구

Abstract

Both death certificates and postmortem examination certificates are used as proofof death. These certificates sometimes contain erroneous information but how frequentlythey do so is unknown. In particular, only a few studies have measured theaccuracy of the cause and manner of death on Korea death documents. In this study,we compared the cause and manner of death on both kinds of certificates with thoseon autopsy reports to determine the frequency of errors, and to identify way toimprove the accuracy of these certificates. In 2012, 528 autopsies were requested ofout institute, and certificates were submitted in 241 of the cases. The manner of deathwas classified as natural, unnatural, or unknown. The cause of death in the autopsyreport matched that on the death certificate in 37 of 63 cases (58.7%), and the mannerof death matched in 40 of 63 cases (63.5%). The cause of death in the autopsyreport matched that on the postmortem examination certificate in 62 of 178 cases(34.8%), and the manner of death matched in 74 of 178 cases (41.6%). Death certificatesand postmortem examination certificates are important documents. We identifiedmany incorrect reports of causes and manners of death on both kinds of documents,especially the postmortem death certificates. These inaccuracies are presumablydue to a lack of forensic information and education, as well as lack of interest onthe part of medical doctors.