Bogdanović, Milenko (57203508508)Milenko (57203508508)BogdanovićAtanasijević, Tatjana (6603042957)Tatjana (6603042957)AtanasijevićPopović, Vesna (57202715640)Vesna (57202715640)PopovićMihailović, Zoran (6508333902)Zoran (6508333902)MihailovićRadnić, Bojana (55245986600)Bojana (55245986600)RadnićPetrović, Tijana (57807942100)Tijana (57807942100)PetrovićBarać, Aleksandra (55550748700)Aleksandra (55550748700)Barać2025-07-022025-07-022022https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.16556https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85134302932&doi=10.3855%2fjidc.16556&partnerID=40&md5=c21afcce60059e77921e198e0116646bhttps://remedy.med.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/12149It is well known that the quality of death certificates determines the accuracy of public health mortality data. In the light of a pandemic, forensic pathologists must understand the true definition of a COVID-19 death and the requirements for filling out the death certificate, as these are critical for maintaining accurate and trustworthy mortality data. To determine the scope and evolution of the COVID-19 epidemic, accurate death certification is critical. We believe that COVID-19 should be enlisted under part II or section “note” (if it exists in DC form in a particular country) of the DC in all suicide instances and putrefied bodies with positive autopsy swabs for SARS-CoV-2. In addition to our suggestions for the completion of the DC in some COVID-19 instances, we feel that forensic pathologists should follow the WHO criteria for proper DC completion in COVID-19 cases. Better physician education at this stage of the pandemic would increase adherence to existing (WHO and CDC) standards. As a result, forensic pathologists with competence in death certification could help by teaching treating physicians in this area. © 2022 Bogdanović et al.autopsyCOVID-19Death certificateforensicputrefactionsuicide