With respect to registration, it is necessary to classify deaths as natural, sudden or violent. Natural deaths are those where the deceased was being attended to regularly by a medical doctor (within at least three months of death) and where the cause of death is not under reasonable doubt by the medical doctor. Sudden deaths are those for which the deceased was not under the care of a medical doctor within three months of death and/or whose cause of death is under any suspicion of foul play. Violent deaths, as the name suggests are those that occurred under violent circumstances.

All deaths require either one of the following to be completed and certified by a medical doctor, medical officer or pathologist:

•  Medical Certificate of the Cause of Death
•  Post Mortem Examination Report
•  Certificate of Coroner (Form D)
• Coroner’s Certificate of Finding of Jury (Form E)