Such phenomena as morbidity and mortality are often confused with each other. Basaraba (2021) notes that these categories are used in health and death statistics. Morbidity is a condition when a person is afflicted with a disease. This is a term that doctors use to refer to a person who has a health problem or is suffering from an illness. In turn, mortality means people’s exposure to death, which means stopping the vital activity of the organism. It is used in connection with a disaster or outbreak when doctors calculate the death rate, which refers to the number of deaths per thousand.
Some of the codes presented in the ICD-10 look pretty funny. For example, one of them is ICD-10 code: V97.33XD Sucked into jet engine, subsequent encounter. That is, a man was sucked into a jet engine, he survived, and then he was sucked again? In this case, it seems that this is not a person at all, but some Wolverine. Also quite funny is the ICD-10 code: W55.29XA Other contact with cow, subsequent encounter. There are codes such as “bitten by cow” and “kicked by cow.” This raises the question of what other contact with a cow could require a visit to the doctor.
According to Improving specificity in ICD-10 diagnosis coding (n.d.), non-specific documentation and coding continue to be a problem, although unspecified codes are needed in some cases. Unspecified codes should be used when the information in the medical record is insufficient to assign a more specific code. However, in some cases, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will deny some requests without providing a list of unacceptable codes. Therefore, to make this question unambiguous, the World Health Organization must include all categories of diagnostic codes in this reference guide.
Thus, codes such as Z63.1 – Problems in relationship with in-laws, V91.07 – Burn due to water-skis on fire, and W22.02 – Walked into lamp post can also be considered funny. Although these codes cause laughter, one can imagine that such situations happen periodically, which justifies their absurdity and the expediency of being in the ICD-10. In turn, such seemingly funny codes as W39 – Discharge of firework or W10 Fall on and from stairs and steps, in practice become not at all funny and require immediate action by medical staff to preserve the patient’s health.
References
Basaraba, S. (2021). Morbidity vs. Mortality: What’s the difference? Verywell Health. Web.
Improving specificity in ICD-10 diagnosis coding. (n.d.). AHIMA. Web.