Medical Certificate Cause Of Death - General Information
The purpose of a Medical Certificate Cause of Death (MCCD) is to notify the Registrar of Births Deaths & Marriages (BDM) and the funeral director (or other person arranging disposal of the deceased's body) of a death and the cause of that death. Death registration is performed using an online form (eMCCD). Two different online forms are available:
(1) for persons 28 days and older
(2) for children under 28 days and still-births (perinatal deaths)
It is a requirement that a MCCD must be;
- completed by a registered medical practitioner (i.e. registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency - AHPRA)
- submitted to the Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages (BDM) within 48 hours of the death
- used in relation to a death that is not reviewable or reportable to a coroner, as specified in section 10 or section 13 of the Coroners Act 2008.
Reporting a Death to the Coroner
Where a medical practitioner is unsure whether they are required to report a death to a coroner they should contact the Coroners Court on 1300 309 519 first to discuss the circumstances surrounding the death. An eMCCD must not be completed for a Reportable Death.
Completing a Medical Certificate Cause Of Death
Access to the online Medical Certificate Cause of Death (eMCCD) and the Medical Certificate Cause of Perinatal Death (eMCCPD) is achieved through the Medical Practitioner Online (MPO) portal of the Births Deaths & Marriages (BDM) website. Access to the portal can be made through the following link https://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/medical-practitioners or via the shortcuts within the Alfred Deceased Persons Resource webpage. Guidelines for completing the form are available from the BDM website.
A copy of the eMCCD or eMCCPD must be printed and signed by the medical practitioner following online registration. A signed copy is required by the funeral director for collection of the deceased. Funeral Directors do not have access to an eMCCD through their BDM accounts. Legislation governing the operation of Cemeteries and Crematoria in Victoria mandates a signed copy of a MCCD must be provided to a Cemetery or Crematoria before internment or cremation can occur.
Contacting Births Deaths and Marriages
You can contact BDM directly at bdmmedicals@justice.vic.gov.au if you have any questions about this process or need to follow up on a cause of death notification.
Additional Assistance
Completing a death certificate can often be a difficult and confusing task with errors frequently made in differentiating antecedent and related conditions.
To help you use the BDM online system, please;
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