Death certificates list any causes or conditions that contributed to the death, the CDC/NCHS Mortality Statistics Branch tells in a statement
These causes are entered into the death certificate by a physician, medical examiner, or coroner, and there may be more than one cause or condition listed
Any clinician who has had experience deciding on what to list as cause of death on a death certificate, understands that the diagnoses chosen involve a great deal of discretion and judgement In most cases, there are multiple contributing diagnoses, and it is common practice to list more than one factor
This isn’t just an issue when COVID-19 is a factor
Underlying diabetes or coronary artery disease are common diseases that contribute to mortality, even when the immediate trigger for death was pneumonia, influenza, or some other infectious process
Explained in a few words, 96% did not die from COVID19, but with COVID19