Fees for part-time medical services
December 2004
Services provided under statute
All registered medical practitioners are obliged by statute to provide the following services for some of which fees may be charged or indicated in the appropriate fees guidance schedule:
- Death certificates, including death within 28 days of birth: the registered medical practitioner in attendance during the deceased’s last illness must by law provide a certificate of cause of death (S22, Births & Deaths Registration Act, 1953).
- Stillbirth certificates: at the request of the ‘qualified informant’, ie the next of kin, or the person eligible to report the stillbirth to the registrar, a registered medical practitioner present at the birth must give a certificate stating that the child was not born alive and giving, to the best of their knowledge and belief, the cause of death and estimated duration of pregnancy (S11, Births & Deaths Registration Act, 1953).
- Notification of infectious diseases (S11, Public Health (Control of Disease) Act, 1984).
- Coroner’s post-mortem: although rarely used, the coroner has power under section 19 of the Coroners Act, 1988 to direct that a post-mortem shall be conducted by the deceased’s general practitioner.
- Professional evidence in court: under the Supreme Court Act 1981, any registered medical practitioner may be directed to give professional evidence.
- Services which doctors are not obliged to provide, but when they do, the fee payable is governed by statute: for example, fees for taking samples of blood required in cases of disputed paternity under the Blood Tests (Evidence of Paternity) Regulations.
- Bankruptcy: any individual who is able to give information about a bankrupt may be required to give evidence, for which no charge can be levied; the Court may also require such individuals to produce any documents in their possession or under their control relating to the bankrupt (S366, Insolvency Act, 1986).