What happens if the Coroner is involved?

What happens if the Coroner is involved?

In some circumstances the death may by law have to be referred to the Coroner.

The role of the Coroner is to establish the cause of a person’s death.

A Medical Certificate of Cause of Death cannot be issued if a referral has been made to the Coroner.

These circumstances include: • If the death was sudden or unexplained • If your relative had a fall/bone fracture • If your relative was involved in an accident • If the death of your relative may have involved an industrial disease. Referrals to the Coroner are infrequent and should not be a cause for concern, although it may delay the issuing of the medical certificate. The staff will talk through why the referral has been made and will explain the process to you.

Although a referral may have been made, after reviewing the situation the Coroner may give permission for the doctor to issue the medical certificate. If the cause of the person’s death is unknown, the Coroner may also order a post mortem. This is an internal investigation to identify the cause of their death. Although your consent is not required for this procedure, the Coroner’s Officers will inform you if this is required. Alternatively, if they feel that more investigation is necessary, the Coroner may hold an inquest.

A Coroner’s inquest will provide an opportunity for all those involved to talk through the time leading up to the person’s death. It also provides an opportunity for relatives to ask questions regarding their relative’s care and subsequent death. Staff at the Coroner’s Court will support you through the process.