[About eligibility of certificates of death from hepatic insufficiency]

Death from hepatic insufficiency is casuistic and occurs only in rare cases of fulminant viral hepatitis B, poisoning with some hepatotrophic compounds, and reaction to certain pharmaceutical products. Hepatic insufficiency is frequently indicated as the immediate cause of death of the subjects suffering liver cirrhosis and some other diseases in postmortem conclusions of forensic medical expertise and autopsy protocols. This mistake ensues from the incorrect interpretation of the results of laboratory analysis of the affected hepatocytes as manifestations of compromised liver function. The true cause of death to be stated in death certificates should be deduced based on different characteristics.