§ Colonel Burtonasked the Minister of Health, whether he can state the circumstances under which a certain Mrs. Martha Brabben obtained a certificate of the death of Mr. James Alfred Douthitt, of Hamilton Street, Camden Town, registered his death, and caused arrangements to be made for his funeral when in fact he was still alive?
§ Mr. ElliotFull inquiry has been made into this matter. Mrs. Brabben, Mr. Douthitt's landlady, seeing Mr. Douthitt lying motionless came[...]o the mistaken 2282W conclusion that he was dead. In this belief she informed Mr. Douthitt's medical attendant who, being acquainted with Mr. Douthitt's medical condition, issued a certificate of cause of death. Mrs. Brabben then took steps for the registration of the death; and since she was a fully qualified informant in her capacity as "the occupier of the house in which, to her knowledge, the death took place" the registrar duly registered the death upon her information. Mr. Douthitt proved to be alive on Mrs. Brabben's return home.