[Importance of medicolegal data for national cause of death statistics].
OBJECTIVE
The validity of French cause of death statistics largely depends on the transmission of the medical information reported on the dedicated part of the death certificate. Data referring to death causes are collected and analyzed at the Information Department on the cause of death (INSERM SC8). In major urban areas with one or more forensic institutions, it has been observed that the proportion of death certificates indicating ìno particular cause of deathî is higher than the national average. We therefore examined deaths occurring in 1996 in the Lyons region.


METHODS
This retrospective study involved 5,208 deaths recorded in Lyons France in 1996. Complementary information on these deaths was obtained from INSERM SC8 and Lyons Medicolegal Institute.


RESULTS
It was observed that a large portion of violent deaths occurring in this city in 1996 (more than 30%) were not recorded appropriately in the national statistics due to a lack of communication after autopsy.


CONCLUSIONS
Considering the importance of epidemiology and suicide prevention in the national public health strategy, improved information transmission must be developed in the near future.
Tilhet-Coartet
S
S
Institut de Médecine Légale, Lyon.
Hatton
F
F
Lopez
C
C
Pequignot
F
F
Miras
A
A
Jacquart
C
C
Jougla
E
E
Malicier
D
D
D000059:Accidents / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002423:Cause of Death; D003415:Crime / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003644:Death Certificates; D005602:France; D006708:Homicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014754:Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data