Deaths reported to the coroner
- About the coroner
- When is a death reported to the coroner?
- How is a death reported to the coroner?
- What will the coroner do?
- What happens at an inquest?
- How is the death registered after an inquest?
Coroners are independent of both local and central government
and are required to act in accordance with laid down rules and
procedures. Coroners are usually solicitors or medical
practitioners. Most coroners have a team of people supporting them
in their work.
The coroner is notifed of deaths when:
- the deceased has not been treated by a doctor during their illness
- the doctor attending the deceased did not see them within 14 days before or after deat.
- the death occurred during an operation or before recovery from the effect of an anaesthetic
- the death was sudden and unexplained or attended by suspicious circumstances
- the death may be due to an industrial injury or disease, or to accident, violence, neglect or abortion, or to any kind of poisoning
- the death occurred in police custody or in prison
A death occurring in any of the above circumstances is usually
reported to the coroner by the police, or by a doctor called to the
death if it was sudden or accidental. It may also be reported by a
doctor who was treating the deceased if the death was unexpected.
The registrar may also report a death to the coroner.
Once any death has been reported to the coroner the registrar
cannot register the death until the coroner's enquiries are
complete. These enquiries can take some time so no funeral
arrangements should be made without reference to the coroner.
The coroner may be able to establish that the death was due to
natural causes and that there is a doctor who is able to issue a
medical certificate of cause of death. If this is the case the
death can be registered at the Register Office.
If the coroner is unable to do so then he will arrange for the
deceased to be taken to the local hospital where, as required by
law, a post-mortem examination will be performed.
This examination often shows that the death was due to natural
causes and in such cases no inquest is required. The family of the
deceased will then be informed and they should register the death at the register
office.
If the coroner establishes the death was not due to natural
causes then he is obliged to hold an inquest.
The coroner holds a medical/legal enquiry into the death of
the deceased but this is not a trial. The purpose of an inquest is
to establish the identity of the deceased, when, where and how the
death occurred and to establish the facts required by the
registrar.
In some cases the coroner will then adjourn the inquest and
issue a form to allow the funeral to take place. An inquest
adjourned will be re-opened at a later date to determine the
circumstances surrounding the death.
Where there is a delay between the death and the holding of an
inquest it is possible for the coroner to issue interim death
certificates if requested. Contact the coroner responsible for the
inquest.
Once an inquest has been held the coroner will send a report
to the registrar in the district where the death occurred. The
registrar will then register the death, contact the family of the
deceased and issue to them a form for social security purposes
(BD8).