- There are approximately 600,000 deaths per year in England and Wales
- Cause of death is certified by the attending doctor in about 75% cases
- Of 150,000 deaths referred to the coroner
- 60% are referred by doctors
- 38% by the police
- 2% by the registrar of births, marriages and deaths
- Initial investigations are conducted by Coroner's Officers
- They are plain-clothed policemen
- Death certificate may be issued after discussion with a Coroner's Officers
- Coroners only hold inquest for about 10% of deaths that they certify
Referral to the coroner
- A death should be referred to the coroner if:
- The cause of death is unknown
- The deceased was not seen by the certifying doctor either after death or within 14 days of death
- The death was violent, unnatural or suspicious
- The death may be due to an accident (whenever it occurred)
- The death may be due to self-neglect or neglect by others
- The death may be due to an industrial disease or related to the deceased employment
- The death may be due to an abortion
- The death occurred during an operation or before recovery from the effects of an anaesthetic
- The death may be due to suicide
- The death occurred during or shortly after detention in police or prison custody
Role of the coroner
- Coroner's Act 1988 defines when an inquest should be held
- Inquests are held in public and may involve a jury
- Purpose of the inquest is to determine
- Who is the deceased
- How, when and where he died
- Details of the cause of death
- The coroner is not concerned with civil or criminal liability
- Coroner may record the cause of death as
- Natural causes
- Accident / misadventure
- Industrial disease
- Sentence of death
- Dependence on drugs or non-dependent abuse of drugs
- Lawful killing
- Open verdict
- Want of attention at birth
- Unlawful killing
- Suicide
- Still birth
- Attempted or self-induced abortion
Bibliography
Milroy C M, Whitwell H L. Reforming the Coroner's Service. BMJ 2003;
327: 175-176.
Powers M J. The coroner's inquest. Br J Anaesth 1994; 73: 78-82.
Rheinberg N. The office of the coroner; past, present and future. Hosp Med
2002; 63: 454-455.
Samuels A J. Coroners. Med Leg J 2001; 69: 37-39.
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