[Documentation of clinical death in preliminary death certificates].

The emergency physician acting within the framework of organised first-aid service, is not obliged to perform a post-mortem examination or to hold a coroner's inquest and to issue a death certificate. It is easy to understand why the relevant authorities must insist on the immediate submission of a death certificate. Such a certificate can be issued only if unequivocal signs of death definitely confirm that the decrease is an indisputable fact. To cope with this situation, a printed form has been designed which is used to document the occurrence of clinical death.