Official URL: http://mccod.w3datanet.com/fhir/CodeSystem/mccod-manner-of-death
Version:
0.1.0
Draft
as of 2026-05-21
Computable Name: MCCoDMannerOfDeathCS
Copyright/Legal: Copyright 2026 AeHIN. Licensed under CC0-1.0.
Code system defining the manner of death categories as specified in the
WHO Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCoD) Form B.
These codes align with the openEHR death_summary archetype
(openEHR-EHR-EVALUATION.death_summary.v0) manner_of_death data element.
Member countries SHALL use these codes without modification to ensure
regional comparability. Local extensions, if needed, SHALL be defined
in country-specific implementation guides that derive from this IG.
This Code system is referenced in the content logical definition of the following value sets:
This case-insensitive code system http://mccod.w3datanet.com/fhir/CodeSystem/mccod-manner-of-death defines the following codes in a Is-A hierarchy:
Code
Display
Definition
disease
Disease
Death resulted from a naturally occurring disease process.
Use when there is no external cause, violence, or injury involved.
assault
Assault
Death resulted from injuries inflicted intentionally by another person.
Includes homicide. Requires completion of the external cause section.
accident
Accident
Death resulted from an unintentional injury or external event.
Requires completion of the external cause section.
legal-intervention
Legal Intervention
Death resulted from injuries inflicted during a legal intervention,
including operations of war in the course of law enforcement.
Requires completion of the external cause section.
could-not-be-determined
Could Not Be Determined
The manner of death could not be determined based on available information
at the time of certification. Distinct from 'Pending investigation' in that
investigation has concluded without a definitive finding.
pending-investigation
Pending Investigation
The manner of death has not yet been determined because an investigation
is ongoing. This is a provisional status and should be updated once
the investigation concludes.
intentional-self-harm
Intentional Self Harm
Death resulted from injuries or actions intentionally self-inflicted
with the intent to cause death. Includes suicide.
Requires completion of the external cause section.
war
War
Death resulted from injuries sustained during war operations or
armed conflict. Requires completion of the external cause section.
unknown
Unknown
The manner of death is not known and cannot be determined.
Use only when information is genuinely unavailable, not as a default.