Deaths Involving a Coroner

Coroners are officers appointed by the Council to investigate any sudden or unexplained death. They are independent of both local and central government and must act in accordance with established rules and procedures.

When are deaths reported to a coroner?

Deaths are reported to a coroner in the following circumstances:

When no doctor has treated the deceased person during their last illness
When the doctor attending the patient did not see them within 14 days either before or after the death
When the death occurred during an operation or before recovery from the effects of an anaesthetic
When the death was sudden and unexplained or under suspicious circumstances
When the death may be due to an industrial disease or injury, or to accident, violence, neglect or abortion or to any kind of poisoning
When the death occurred in police custody or in prison
When the death occurred in hospital less than 24 hours after admission
When death is suspected to be as a result of taking illicit drugs
When the death may be due to suicide
When the police are in attendance at the time of death

How deaths are reported to a Coroner

Any death occurring under any of the above circumstances is usually reported to the Coroner by the Police or by a doctor called to attend the death if it was sudden or accidental. A death may also be reported to a Coroner by a doctor who was treating the deceased person if the death was unexpected. A registrar can also report a death to a Coroner.

The registrar must await the outcome of the Coroner's investigation before being able to register the death. These enquiries can take some time depending upon the circumstances and as such it is always best to contact the Coroner's office before making any firm funeral arrangements.

What the Coroner will do

The Coroner may be able to establish that the death was due to a natural cause and that there is a doctor who is able to certify the death. If not, the Coroner will arrange for the body to be taken to the local hospital where they will authorise a post-mortem examination to take place. This examination often shows that the death was in fact due to natural causes and that there is no need for an inquest.

What happens if the death is not due to natural causes

If the death does not appear to be as a result of natural causes then the Coroner is obliged by law to hold an inquest. This is a medical and legal enquiry and is not the same as a trial. The purpose of the inquest is to establish the identity of the deceased person as well as when, where and how the death occurred along with the details that are required by the registrar.

In all cases, the Coroner will initially open and adjourn the inquest and issue an Order for Burial or Certificate for Cremation to allow the funeral to take place. In these circumstances the Coroner will then resume the inquest at a later date to determine the circumstances surrounding the death. This in turn may involve the calling of witnesses. These witnesses must attend as they are vital in preventing injustices. Penalties may be imposed on witnesses for failure to attend an inquest.

Coroner's contact details

Further information about the coroner's service and contact details for the county coroner can be found by visiting the coroner's page on this website Coroners Office Homepage

Last Modified: 01/08/2007 14:40:07
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