Classification and certification of death in common law legal systems: a scoping review and primary study

A key operational parameter in medicolegal death investigation systems is the death certification process which is a highly specialized forensic service involving coroners/medical examiners, forensic pathologists/doctors, a full autopsy and allied investigations. The purpose of the project is to improve the understanding of death certification in Commonwealth legal and political systems. This project aims to determine who classifies death, who is authorized to sign the death certificates in the Commonwealth and to what extent the death certificates adhere to the World Health organization guidelines.