§ Mr. Frank Fieldasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he intends to take on implementing the Brodrick report's proposal on the formal death certificate.
§ Mr. John PattenI have been asked to reply.
Following extensive discussions between the Registrar General and other interested parties, including the British Medical Association, it has been decided that the medical certificate of cause of death will be revised to enable the certifying medical practitioner to indicate whether he believes that the death might have been due or contributed to by the employment followed at some time by the deceased. This will meet one of the Brodrick committee's proposals on the death certificate and will operate the provisions of the Industrial Diseases (Notification) Act 1981. In addition, for deaths in hospital, the certifying doctor will be asked to give the name of the consultant responsible for the care of the patient prior to death.