Death certificate

Dear PAO,

The accused who stabbed my father was saying the death certificate of my father cannot be admitted as evidence considering the doctor (deceased) who prepared the same was not presented in court. According to him, the testimony of the doctor who is interpreting the contents of the death certificate is immaterial. Is it really necessary that the death certificate must be presented by the doctor who prepared the same?

Aleck

Dear Aleck,

There is no provision of law which requires the entries in the death certificate must be testified by the same doctor who prepared it. It is important to emphasize the evidence here is the death certificate of your father and not the testimony of the doctor who is just interpreting its contents. The said death certificate is classified as a public document. In relation to this, Article 410 of the New Civil Code of the Philippines specifically provides: