Death certificates can be used for surveillance, outbreaks and emergencies, such as those listed on the screen.  Rapid reporting of deaths are required by law. Cause of death information alerts local and national agencies – and the healthcare community at large – to epidemics and severe medical complications of infectious and environmental exposures.  Accurate and complete reporting of cause of death ensures this surveillance is effective. If it is not effective, it can be disastrous, as was the case with reporting HIV as cause of death in South Africa.