§ 8. Sir GERALD STRICKLANDasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that it is not unusual for certificates of death to be signed by doctors without previously viewing the body after death and on the hearsay evidence of others; and whether he is prepared to propose legislation which will make it incumbent on doctors who sign death certificates to add thereto that they have ascertained to the best of their ability that death has actually occurred and is not merely apparent.
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of HEALTH (Sir Kingsley Wood)I have been asked to reply. If, as I assume, my hon. Friend refers to the certificate which the medical 1523 practitioner in attendance on a deceased person in his last illness is required by law to give, "stating to the best of his knowledge and belief the cause of death," the answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. With regard to the latter part of the Question the whole subject is under consideration and I am not at present in a position to make any statement.