On April 21, 2020 the British Medical Association (BMA) changed their guidance to doctors in England and Wales, “on verification and certification of death and cremation for a temporary period during which emergency measures are in place to tackle the COVID-19 outbreak.” As a result of the Coronavirus Act 2020, this also indemnified doctors.
Doctors no longer had to be that sure a patient died from COVID-19, “to write COVID-19 on a death certificate”, which was “highly irregular“. Like Australian and US, now the UK doctors can “legally” write COVID-19 on the Medical Certificates of Cause of Death (MCCD) where it is assumed to be from COVID-19. Similarly for Scotland. [3]
The guidance stated: “In those cases where the doctor is confident on medical grounds that a particular cause of death is likely then that should be entered on the MCCD (Medical Certificates of Cause of Death). Covid-19 is an acceptable direct or underlying cause of death for the purposes of completing the MCCD, even without the results of a positive test, and it is important that likely Covid-19 deaths are reported as such via the registrar.” [1]
This was revoked 2 years later on April 13, 2022, because the “Coronavirus Act 2020 …was repealed on 24 March 2022”. Except “the form Cremation 5, which was suspended during the pandemic, will not be re-introduced after the Coronavirus Act expires and has now permanently been abolished”
The removal of the Cremation 5 form, means, “basically if your loved one dies of or with Covid19 they can have their death certified and cremation certified by the same medical practitioner and sent for cremation within hours …the government have removed your right to see or query that decision before the cremation takes place which in turn removes your right to request a coroners report or second opinion.” [2]