Deaths Reported to The Coroner

Unexpected deaths are reported to the coroner, sometimes by the police but usually by the doctor who was called when the person died. A death is regarded as unexpected in any of the following circumstances:

• The person who has died was not seen by a doctor in the 14 days before death or during his final illness

• The doctor does not know the cause of death and so cannot issue a medical certificate

• The person died within 24 hours of being admitted to hospital or during an operation

• The medical certificate suggests that the cause of death was due to industrial disease or industrial poisoning.

When a death is reported to the coroner, the coroner usually arranges for a post-mortem. This normally establishes the cause of death.

If the death is from natural causes, it can be registered, and the funeral can go ahead.

There is only an inquest if the cause of death is in doubt, even after the post-mortem or the post-mortem shows that death was not from natural causes.

If there is to be an inquest, the coroner usually allows the funeral to be held after the post-mortem.