Deciphering handwritten cause of death on death certificate I'm having trouble deciphering a cause of death. So far here's what I think: line (a) cause: ? , onset: 1 week line (b) perforated Ca -- sigmoid, onset: 7 mos. (months) I'm guessing line (b) indicates a perforated colon related to sigmoid colon cancer, and that cancer was diagnosed 7 months ago? What then, is the immediate cause of death? ![death certificate](

I read that as:

* Peritonitis (1 week)
* Perforated Ca - sigmoid (7 mos)



The sigmoid presumably refers to the sigmoid colon having been perforated leading to peritonitis.