You can ask the certifying doctor any questions you may have about a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD). If you are not satisfied after speaking to the doctor, you can ask us to carry out an interested person review. This must be within three years of the death.
An interested person review does not assess the quality of care provided to the person who has died.
Key requirements for an interested person review
Key requirements for an MCCD to be eligible for an interested person review include that it:
- has not been previously reviewed by us
- has not been previously reported to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
- must be within three years of the death of the deceased person
When to apply
You can apply for an interested person review before or after a death is registered.
If you apply before registration, registration will not go ahead. The funeral cannot take place until the review is complete.
If you apply after registration and need to make changes to the Certificate of Registration of Death, National Records of Scotland Vital Events will contact you. They will arrange to provide you with an updated certificate.
Who can apply for an interested person review
To apply for an interested person review you must have a clear link to the person who has died. For example, you should be:
- a family member
- a healthcare professional involved in their care
- the funeral director who arranged the funeral
- the person having charge of the place of disposal
How to apply for an interested person review
To apply for an interested person review, complete an application form.
You can also get an application form by:
- telephoning us on 0300 123 1898
- emailing us at his.dcrs@nhs.scot
Next steps
The medical reviewer will carry out a Level 2 review if all criteria are met. A Level 2 review is a more detailed review of the MCCD. During the review, the medical reviewer will have a conversation with the certifying doctor. During this conversation, they will check the accuracy of the certificate.
Once complete, the medical reviewer will write and let you know the outcome.
We will aim to complete pre-registration reviews within three days. Post registration reviews are normally completed within 14 working days.
Quality of care concerns
Concerns about the care provided can be raised through:
- the relevant NHS board
- the GP practice of the deceased
- NHS Inform website
Further resources
- Interested person review leaflet – more details on an interested person review