OF16 Coroners Act 2006

Question 1

Which deaths must be reported to the Coroner and when?

Answer 1

• Suicide.
• Cause unknown or no doctors certificate.
• Unnatural death or violent death. (Accidents/Crashes)
• Medical, surgical or dental operation or procedure.
• Birth deaths, as a result of being pregnant or giving birth.
• Institutional deaths, such as psychiatric hospitals, children’s home or prison, police custody. (Where anybody is in charge of another person)
• Enactment that requires the holding of an inquest.

These deaths must be reported to the coroner immediately.

Question 2

What is a post-mortem?

Answer 2

An examination of a persons body to establish the cause of death.

Question 3

Who authorises a post-mortem and who performs it?

Answer 3

• Authorised by the Coroner and performed by a Pathologist.

Question 4

What is the purpose of an inquest inquiry?

Answer 4

An inquest inquiry is to establish

• The fact that a person had died
• The identity of the deceased
• the cause of death
• When and Where they died
• The circumstances of the death.

They also make recommendations to the Coroner if the public could benefit from knowing what caused the death, and if other authorities need to run their own investigation.

Question 5

Which deaths must a Coroner hold an inquiry into?

Answer 5

• Suicide
• Institutional/ custody
• If the Coroner is not satisfied with the cause, or circumstances of the death have not been clearly established

Question 6

What documentation comes with a Sudden Death?

Answer 6

• (COR31) Verification of Death
• (POL265A) Identification Form
• PATHOLOGIST Report
• (POL47) Initial Report for CORONER
• STATEMENTS, job sheets, depositions

Question 7

Who can sign off the cause of death?

Answer 7

A doctor who has recently been treating the patient for a particular illness and death was an expected outcome.

Midwife

Question 8

What are the reasons to write a statement for a POL47

Answer 8

IDENTIFIER
PERSON WHO FOUND
LAST PERSON TO SEE ALIVE

Question 9

Forms for Coroner’s findings (COR)

Answer 9

COR 2 Outcome of inquiry (natural)

COR 7 and written findings - inquiry completed.

COR 9 if in relation to an offence

Question 10

What do we do with a naked body before photos?

Answer 10

Paper towel over genitals