Physicians say hospitals are pressuring ER docs to list COVID-19 on death certificates. Here’s why

Jon Miltimore, Special to Valley NewsWhen Drs. Dan Erickson and Dr. Artin Massihi of Accelerated Urgent Care held a news conference recently, their goal was to galvanize policymakers to reopen the economy.The California-based hospital owners may have uncorked a bigger story.During their long discussion with reporters, Erickson said he has spoken to numerous physicians who say they are being pressured to add COVID-19 to death certificates and diagnostic lists – even when the novel coronavirus appears to have no relation to the victim’s cause of death.“They say, ‘You know, it’s interesting. When I’m writing up my death report, I’m being pressured to add COVID-19,’” Erickson said. “Why is that? Why are we being pressured to add COVID-19? To maybe increase