Letter: Why an 'ash cash form' costs 60 pounds

Sir: With reference to the letter from J. McKenzie Foulds, titled 'How can a doctor's signature cost pounds 60?', I suspect that the pounds 60 refers not to the death certificate, but rather to the cremation certificate. Doctors have a statutory obligation to complete a death certificate whenever a patient dies and there is no fee involved.

The cremation certificate (or the 'ash cash form', as it is known to most junior doctors) is a comprehensive two-part form, completed by two independent doctors. It is necessary before a body can be released for cremation. The fee is not fixed by the doctors.

Yours faithfully,

A. PHILLIPSON

Ormskirk, Lancashire

11 March