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Death certificate changes urged by top pathologist | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
It is "incomprehensible" that the death certificates system has not been reformed since the conviction of Harold Shipman, a leading pathologist says. | |
Royal College of Pathologists' president Dr Suzy Lishman told the BBC introducing independent assessors in England and Wales was "long overdue". | |
GP Shipman, jailed for murder in 2000, drew up death certificates for his 250 victims which went unchallenged. | |
The Department of Health said it was committed to reforming the system. | The Department of Health said it was committed to reforming the system. |
Medical assessors | Medical assessors |
Dr Lishman called on the government to revisit the issue and implement changes without delay. | Dr Lishman called on the government to revisit the issue and implement changes without delay. |
Changes in death certification were among the safeguards recommended by Dame Janet's Smith inquiry into Shipman's crimes in 2004. | |
That inquiry was followed by a specific review of coroners and death certification, chaired by former Department of Health official Tom Luce. | |
Mr Luce's review, covering England, Wales and Northern Ireland, called for: | |
The Labour government legislated for the reforms in 2009 but they were not implemented. | The Labour government legislated for the reforms in 2009 but they were not implemented. |
The current government committed to introducing the reforms including appointing independent medical examiners in local authority areas to counter-sign and scrutinise death certificates. | The current government committed to introducing the reforms including appointing independent medical examiners in local authority areas to counter-sign and scrutinise death certificates. |
'Repeatedly failed' | 'Repeatedly failed' |
Robert Francis QC, in his inquiry into the Mid Staffordshire hospital scandal, strongly supported the need for independent monitoring of death certificates. | Robert Francis QC, in his inquiry into the Mid Staffordshire hospital scandal, strongly supported the need for independent monitoring of death certificates. |
There have been pilot schemes but the changes have not yet been put into practice and it is understood they have been put on hold until after the general election. | There have been pilot schemes but the changes have not yet been put into practice and it is understood they have been put on hold until after the general election. |
It is thought the question of who pays the bill for the new system of medical examiners has not been resolved. | It is thought the question of who pays the bill for the new system of medical examiners has not been resolved. |
Mr Luce, chairman of the 2003 coroners review, told the BBC: "The government has repeatedly promised to introduce a safer system but has repeatedly failed to do so and has now gone back on its undertakings and deferred action indefinitely. | |
"Around half-a-million people die every year in England and Wales so around seven million deaths have been dealt with through a system known for at least a dozen years to be unsafe. It is scarcely believable that this is to continue." | "Around half-a-million people die every year in England and Wales so around seven million deaths have been dealt with through a system known for at least a dozen years to be unsafe. It is scarcely believable that this is to continue." |
'Reforms will proceed' | |
A Department of Health spokesman said: "We now have working models of the medical examiner service in Sheffield and Gloucester and will be working to review how they fit with other developments on patient safety. | |
"The reforms will proceed in light of that review." | |
Shipman was jailed for life in January 2000 for murdering 15 of his patients and forging the will of one. | |
A public inquiry later decided the 57-year-old had killed at least 250 patients over 23 years while practising in Hyde, Greater Manchester, and in West Yorkshire. | |
He killed himself in prison in January 2004. |