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Disclaimer / Limitations
This country’s legal measures were reviewed by our legal staff in consultation with in-country lawyers and/or CRVS legal experts. All efforts were made to ensure the accuracy of the legal analysis, however, if you consider there to be any discrepancies or if there have been changes in the law of the country since our staff last updated the legal analysis, we welcome any additional information or insights. Please contact us via this form.
Cause of Death
South Africa
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South Africa
Cause of Death
Verbal Autopsy
Verbal Autopsy
Verbal Autopsy
Does the law allow for the use of verbal autopsy when there is no MCCD?
No
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
A verbal autopsy (VA) is an interview carried out with family members and caregivers of the deceased, using a structured questionnaire to elicit signs and symptoms and other pertinent information that can later be used to assign a probable underlying cause of death. The results of the verbal autopsy interview may be analysed using a computer algorithm (automated verbal autopsy), which generates a probable cause of death based on the interviewee responses. Alternatively, a physician may review the results (physician-reviewed VA) and determine a probable cause of death.
No provision was identified in the Births and Deaths Registration Act, the 2014 Regulations, or any other instrument reviewed that permits, requires, or references verbal autopsy as a method for determining cause of death. Where no medical practitioner is available to certify cause of death, the death is reported on Form DHA-1680 without medical cause-of-death certification. No alternative method for determining cause of death in these circumstances is prescribed.
Is a verbal autopsy used only for statistical purposes, or also for legal purposes?
Not applicable
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
VA is used to generate a probable cause of death. The results are accurate at the population level but not at the individual level. Therefore, verbal autopsies should only be used for statistical purposes, and not for legal purposes.
