What the hell is excess mortality?

[a1mamacat]

Is that when you are extra dead?

[mrkelley23]

Pretty legitimate term in epidemiology, referring to the number of deaths above and beyond what would be normally expected during that time. For instance, in the US, we have about 285,000 excess deaths since the pandemic began, but "only" about 220,0000 of those are directly related to COVID, probably. The others are a source of speculation, but may be due to "COVID-adjacent" causes -- suicides and drug overdoses due to depression or untreated mental illness, people not getting preventive medical care, etc.

[Bob Juch]

Pretty legitimate term in epidemiology, referring to the number of deaths above and beyond what would be normally expected during that time. For instance, in the US, we have about 285,000 excess deaths since the pandemic began, but "only" about 220,0000 of those are directly related to COVID, probably. The others are a source of speculation, but may be due to "COVID-adjacent" causes -- suicides and drug overdoses due to depression or untreated mental illness, people not getting preventive medical care, etc.

My cardiologist complained to me about having to sign death certificates with the cause being cardiomyopathy when he knew it was caused by COVID.

[Spock]

Pretty legitimate term in epidemiology, referring to the number of deaths above and beyond what would be normally expected during that time. For instance, in the US, we have about 285,000 excess deaths since the pandemic began, but "only" about 220,0000 of those are directly related to COVID, probably. The others are a source of speculation, but may be due to "COVID-adjacent" causes -- suicides and drug overdoses due to depression or untreated mental illness, people not getting preventive medical care, etc.

My cardiologist complained to me about having to sign death certificates with the cause being cardiomyopathy when he knew it was caused by COVID.

So lying on a death certificate about the cause of death is legal? In fact, it is so legal that doctors tell random people about it. Who then share it on the internet.

Hmm, you learn something new every day.

[Bob Juch]

Pretty legitimate term in epidemiology, referring to the number of deaths above and beyond what would be normally expected during that time. For instance, in the US, we have about 285,000 excess deaths since the pandemic began, but "only" about 220,0000 of those are directly related to COVID, probably. The others are a source of speculation, but may be due to "COVID-adjacent" causes -- suicides and drug overdoses due to depression or untreated mental illness, people not getting preventive medical care, etc.

My cardiologist complained to me about having to sign death certificates with the cause being cardiomyopathy when he knew it was caused by COVID.

So lying on a death certificate about the cause of death is legal? In fact, it is so legal that doctors tell random people about it. Who then share it on the internet.

Hmm, you learn something new every day.

No, they did die of cardiomyopathy but they also were infected with the virus.

[silverscreenselect]

we have about 285,000 excess deaths since the pandemic began, but "only" about 220,0000 of those are directly related to COVID, probably.

Keep in mind that about three million people were expected to die in the United States this year from all causes combined. So far, we've exceeded that amount by 10% over an eight-month period (essentially no Covid deaths in January or February).

[SpacemanSpiff]

This is a study from VCU that leads into this debate:

https://news.vcu.edu/article/Total_deat ... attributed

[Spock]

My cardiologist complained to me about having to sign death certificates with the cause being cardiomyopathy when he knew it was caused by COVID.

So lying on a death certificate about the cause of death is legal? In fact, it is so legal that doctors tell random people about it. Who then share it on the internet.

Hmm, you learn something new every day.

No, they did die of cardiomyopathy but they also were infected with the virus.

Note that your original post did not say "Also infected with the virus."

You said "When he knew it was CAUSED by Covid."

One hell of a difference between the two.

So which exactly did the doctor tell you?

If he knew it was "Caused by Covid" and he put something else on the death certificate he doesn't sound like an ethical doctor.

[Bob Juch]

So lying on a death certificate about the cause of death is legal? In fact, it is so legal that doctors tell random people about it. Who then share it on the internet.

Hmm, you learn something new every day.

No, they did die of cardiomyopathy but they also were infected with the virus.

Note that your original post did not say "Also infected with the virus."

You said "When he knew it was CAUSED by Covid."

One hell of a difference between the two.

So which exactly did the doctor tell you?

If he knew it was "Caused by Covid" and he put something else on the death certificate he doesn't sound like an ethical doctor.

He knew the cardiac problems were caused by the virus. He had no proof, however, so had no choice but to say otherwise.