Re: Question about death certificates...

[Guest guest]

Jerry I do not know where you live but I live in the northern part of Indiana

MYhusband Ralph died 8 -23 - 01 and on his death certifcate

is wrote SHY- DRAGER SYDROME AND FOR TIME HE WROTE YEARS

Blanche

[Guest guest]

:

I agree with you actually, I think the primary cause of death should

be listed as MSA because the other would never happen if he didn't have MSA.

Here in CA they put a primary and a secondary cause of death, and they put

Parkinson's and Shy-Drager for Ken, and then we found out later that he had

DLBD not SDS. So, you see, the best intentions sometimes go astray. I do

think though that the neurological progressive disease should be listed

because statistics are compiled from the listed cause of death.

Barbara

[Guest guest]

,

In my previous employment,I was state registrar of vital records and

director of public health statistics for the State of Indiana. I know from

my expereinces there that physicians are notorious for failing to code the

complete cause of death so that public health statistics will accurately

reflect morbidity and mortality. The underlying causes - such as MSA - are

the most critical to collect data for and also the most frequently

under-reported. You are correct that the death certificate as it currently

reads will influence mortality statistics for heart disease, and it will not

impact statistics on neurological or movement disorders.

Jerry Cash

Question about death certificates...

Hi All,

We just picked up my dad's death certificate. The

cause of death is listed as " cardiac dysarythmia "

(sp?). There is no mention of MSA. There is a blank

after the cause of death that says " as a consequence

of " , but it was left blank. Logically, MSA could have

been put in that blank.

My question is this. Is it worth having the death

certificate amended to reflect the MSA? I feel it

should be there. As silly as it may sound, I think

that the cause they listed makes his death sound too

easy, (if that's possible). Listing MSA at least

acknowledges his struggle.

However, my real reason for wanting it on there is if

it would make a difference somewhere down the road in

terms of funding for research or something. Does

anyone ever look at general statistics from death

certificates? In other words, if more death

certificates listed MSA as a cause of death, could it

potentially make a difference when the powers that be

are doling out funds for research? Am I even making

any sense at all? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks!

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

,

In my previous employment,I was state registrar of vital records and

director of public health statistics for the State of Indiana. I know from

my expereinces there that physicians are notorious for failing to code the

complete cause of death so that public health statistics will accurately

reflect morbidity and mortality. The underlying causes - such as MSA - are

the most critical to collect data for and also the most frequently

under-reported. You are correct that the death certificate as it currently

reads will influence mortality statistics for heart disease, and it will not

impact statistics on neurological or movement disorders.

Jerry Cash

Question about death certificates...

Hi All,

We just picked up my dad's death certificate. The

cause of death is listed as " cardiac dysarythmia "

(sp?). There is no mention of MSA. There is a blank

after the cause of death that says " as a consequence

of " , but it was left blank. Logically, MSA could have

been put in that blank.

My question is this. Is it worth having the death

certificate amended to reflect the MSA? I feel it

should be there. As silly as it may sound, I think

that the cause they listed makes his death sound too

easy, (if that's possible). Listing MSA at least

acknowledges his struggle.

However, my real reason for wanting it on there is if

it would make a difference somewhere down the road in

terms of funding for research or something. Does

anyone ever look at general statistics from death

certificates? In other words, if more death

certificates listed MSA as a cause of death, could it

potentially make a difference when the powers that be

are doling out funds for research? Am I even making

any sense at all? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks!

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

I don't have any answers, but it makes sense to me that somewhere they need

to document cases/death rates to fight for more money to study this disease.

Bill or Pam probably know more on funding issues. You ask some good

questions though. My sympathy to you on the loss of your dad. Cindy B.

Question about death certificates...

> Hi All,

>

> We just picked up my dad's death certificate. The

> cause of death is listed as " cardiac dysarythmia "

> (sp?). There is no mention of MSA. There is a blank

> after the cause of death that says " as a consequence

> of " , but it was left blank. Logically, MSA could have

> been put in that blank.

>

> My question is this. Is it worth having the death

> certificate amended to reflect the MSA? I feel it

> should be there. As silly as it may sound, I think

> that the cause they listed makes his death sound too

> easy, (if that's possible). Listing MSA at least

> acknowledges his struggle.

>

> However, my real reason for wanting it on there is if

> it would make a difference somewhere down the road in

> terms of funding for research or something. Does

> anyone ever look at general statistics from death

> certificates? In other words, if more death

> certificates listed MSA as a cause of death, could it

> potentially make a difference when the powers that be

> are doling out funds for research? Am I even making

> any sense at all? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

>

> Thanks!

>

>

>

> __________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

Jerry & Melannie,

This is nice to know. It is not something that I would of thought of.

thanks,

Liz (in El Centro)