Avoidable Mortality

Standard Mortality Ratios (SMR) for certain diseases from which death is considered avoidable can be used as outcome indicators, measuring the effectiveness of health service intervention. The interpretation of SMRs for diseases such as stroke, asthma and cancer of the bladder will be discussed. The responsibility of health service managers and clinicians in the investigation of avoidable deaths is outlined in order that district health authorities (DHAs) can begin to reduce the number of unnecessary deaths from these diseases.