Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages (Scotland) Act 1965

24 Certificate of cause of death. S

(1) For the purpose of enabling information to be given, in pursuance of the last foregoing section, of the cause of death of[F1 , and any relevant medical information about,] any person, any registered medical practitioner who was in attendance on the deceased during his last illness shall, within seven days, or such other period, not being less than two days, as may be prescribed, after the death of the person, transmit to any person who is a qualified informant in relation to the death, or to the [F2 district registrar for a registration district], a certificate in the prescribed form [F3 attested, in the prescribed manner,] by the medical practitioner stating to the best of his knowledge and belief the cause of death [F4 and such other medical information as may be prescribed].

Different forms of certificate may be prescribed in respect of persons of different ages, and in the case of the death of a child under one year of age such forms may provide for the giving of particulars of the condition of the mother before the death of the child.

[F5 (1A) A registered medical practitioner may, where invited to do so under section 10(2)(b) or 11(6) of the 2011 Act (action following unsatisfactory review), attest and transmit a replacement certificate to a medical reviewer or, as the case may be, the senior medical reviewer.]

(2) If there was no registered medical practitioner in attendance on the deceased during his last illness, or if any registered medical practitioner, having been in attendance as aforesaid, is unable to provide a certificate such as is required by the last foregoing subsection, such a certificate may be [F6 attested, in the prescribed manner,] by any medical practitioner who is able to do so, and may be transmitted by him to any person who is a qualified informant in relation to the death, or to the [F7 district registrar for a registration district].

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 24(1) inserted (8.6.2013) by Certification of Death (Scotland) Act 2011 (asp 11), ss. 26(2)(a), 32(3); S.S.I. 2013/159, art. 2, Sch.

F2 Words in s. 24(1) substituted (1.10.2006 for specified purposes, 1.1.2007 in so far as not already in force) by Local Electoral Administration and Registration Services (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 14), ss. 42(4)(a)(i), 63(2); S.S.I. 2006/469, arts. 2, 3, Schs. 1, 2 (with art. 4)

F3 Words in s. 24(1) substituted (1.10.2006 for specified purposes, 1.1.2007 in so far as not already in force) by Local Electoral Administration and Registration Services (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 14), ss. 42(4)(a)(ii), 63(2); S.S.I. 2006/469, arts. 2, 3, Schs. 1, 2 (with art. 4)

F4 Words in s. 24(1) inserted (8.6.2013) by Certification of Death (Scotland) Act 2011 (asp 11), ss. 26(2)(b), 32(3); S.S.I. 2013/159, art. 2, Sch.

F5 S. 24(1A) inserted (13.5.2015) by Certification of Death (Scotland) Act 2011 (asp 11), s. 32(3), Sch. 2 para. 4; S.S.I. 2015/115, art. 3

F6 Words in s. 24(2) substituted (1.10.2006 for specified purposes, 1.1.2007 in so far as not already in force) by Local Electoral Administration and Registration Services (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 14), ss. 42(4)(b)(i), 63(2); S.S.I. 2006/469, arts. 2, 3, Schs. 1, 2 (with art. 4)

F7 Words in s. 24(2) substituted (1.10.2006 for specified purposes, 1.1.2007 in so far as not already in force) by Local Electoral Administration and Registration Services (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 14), ss. 42(4)(b)(ii), 63(2); S.S.I. 2006/469, arts. 2, 3, Schs. 1, 2 (with art. 4)