THE NEW CANADIAN DEATH CERTIFICATESource: Canadian Public Health Journal, Vol. 26, No. 4 (April, 1935), p. 195Published by: Canadian Public Health AssociationStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/41979353 .

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Editorial Section 195

In any attempt to divorce provision for treatment from an assurance of income during a period of unemployability due to illness, it must be borne in mind that the last mentioned of these features is of greater concern to the individual seeking insurance than the first. Such provision was the most appealing feature of all existing schemes at the time of their adoption, not only to the members of the community who might profit by such a measure but also to those actively concerned with social reform. The bugaboo of certifica- tion of sickness crops up under any plan as yet devised. It existed in the early days of compensation from accidents in industry, exists in the schemes in vogue in Europe and will present itself for consideration in any plan yet suggested as applicable to Canadian conditions. Mere elimination of payment to the insured during periods of illness from any proposed plan does not dispose of the problem. If the insured is to get no remuneration during illness, then he is not materially concerned with health insurance. If he is, then certification of the extent of illness must rest with the attending physician.

Due consideration must be given to the cost of and method designed to meet this cost in this country at the moment; and along with the question of cost must be considered the actuarial soundness of the plan proposed.

THE NEW CANADIAN DEATH CERTIFICATE

CANADA decade in can

establishing well bè proud

a national of what

system has been

of vital achieved

statistics during

when the past

it is decade in establishing a national system of vital statistics when it is remembered that prior to 1920 there was no uniformity in the adminis-

tration and enforcement of registration. With the increasing interest in mortality statistics, however, there has been a growing feeling that a revision of the death certificate, as introduced in 1920, was necessary. This feeling was directed particularly toward the medical statement of cause of death. During his tenure of office as chief of the Division of Census and Vital Statistics of the Dominion Bureau of Statistics Mr. E. S. Macphail repeatedly drew at- tention to this factor and its relation to greater accuracy in certification. It is pleasing therefore that the task of revision has been completed and ap- proved by the profession before Mr. Macphail's retirement.

An improved certificate, however, will not in itself assure improved certification. If the weaknesses of the former certificate as relating to the physician's statement of cause of death are to be overcome, physicians must understand the purpose of the new certificate. To this end, the committee is co-operating with the provincial medical associations in informing the profession about the proper use of the certificate and the Dominion Bureau is preparing a new publication to replace the present Physician's Pocket Reference, of such character that it will serve also as a manual of instruction for undergraduate medical students.

The revision of the death certificate manifests a wide interest in vital statistics on the part of the profession and demonstrates the services which can be rendered by the Association.

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