1928 Death Certificate, 'Cardiac Operation'

[BSmith2268]

My x2 great grandfather, Thomas Smith died in 1928, aged 64.

On his death certificate, the cause of death is just:

' (a) Cardiac Operation, No P.M'

Is this suggesting that he died from complications during the operation?

Thanking you in advance,
BSmith

[Annie65115]

No, he could have died some time after the operation rather than during it.

But if the death was assessed as being caused by a surgical procedure, then aninquest should have been held - sadly you probably won't be able to find details of this as it's within the last 100 years, but it might be worth a newspaper search in the vague offchance that something was reported?

[Pheno]

Actually, even if he died some time after the operation the reason could still have been due to complications of the procedure.

I have been to just such an inquest this week for my brother who died 4 days after a cardiac operation.  The coroner rejected conclusions (no longer called verdicts) of either Natural Causes or Accident/Misadventure and recorded a Narrative conclusion as she said it was the initial procedure which caused the death.

There was no requirement for a post mortem.

Pheno