Doctors "nice little earner"

[Dinger2]

Apparently in the lead-up(somewhere in the hospital stages) to the issue of a death certificate it is required that the signatures of two independent doctors are put on paper before the certificate is issued, for this there is a fee of �142 (in my Dads case april/'08). Apparently,It is legal (a doctors perk if you like) but can anyone shed more light/ expand on this for me.grateful for any explanations.

[loonytunes]

Blame Harold Shipman!

[dzug]

Doesn't sound right to me - a death certificate issued by a hospital is free and there is then a small charge for registering the death.

Could be something to do with the requirement for two signatures for a cremation to take place?

[brenda]

I think it is yet another excuse to rip people off, even though it may be required in law.

Families are already often distressed at a bereavement,and to charge for signatures is disgraceful.Surely lifeand death are part and parcel of a doctors job.?

[sqad617]

Are you referring to the Cremation Certificate?

It has always been that the Dr. in charge of the case signs the first part and an independant Dr. signs the second part.

One has to be sure that before Cremation, there is no suggestion of murder.

Sincy 1948, it always has been looked upon as a "perk"

[sqad617]

http://leatherheadblog.com/2008/04/21/death-ce rtificates-cremation-certificates-ash-cash/

[buildersmate]

Death certification (as distinct from a death certificate) have required 2 doctor's signatures since before Harold Shipman, so that answer is bunk.
Whilst doctor's do get paid for signing since certification, it doesn't get passed to the estate of the deceased.
Death Certificates from the Registrars's Office cost �3.50 each.
The answer given by Squad in regard to the extra costs for cremation are correct.

[Androcles]

Apparently known in the trade as "Ash-cash"!