Basingstoke and north hampshire hospital pathology user handbook

Deaths to be reported to the Coroner
You cannot accept jurisdiction (i.e. cannot complete a death certificate) for deaths resulting from:

- Fractures or other injury resulting from road traffic accidents or other

accidents.

- Drugs, toxins, or alcohol poisoning.

- Privation or neglect.

- Recovery from anaesthetic.

- Prisoners or patients held under Sections of the Mental Health Act.

- Occupational disease e.g. asbestosis

- Intra-operative deaths.

- Suicides

These cases must be referred to the Coroner (Mr. A. Bradley, 01256 478119), or the Coroner's Officer at Basingstoke Police Station (01256 405015). There is no rule that deaths within 24 hours of admission must be reported to the Coroner provided you are sure of the cause of death. If in doubt please do not be afraid to contact the Coroner, he will be only too happy to advise you. Please do not delay - contact the Coroner as soon as possible after 9 a.m.

Once the death has been accepted by the Coroner he has jurisdiction over the death and he writes the Death Certificate. He may ask for a Post Mortem to be performed and for which consent from relatives is not required. Once the Coroner has ordered a Post Mortem this is then required by law and the relatives are unable to intervene. Form G28 is then completed by the Coroner's Officer. The information needed by the Officer is obtained from the patient's notes and interviews with relatives etc. conducted normally from the Patients & Relative Support Manager on B. Level. There should be no need for police officers to come to the ward except occasionally at weekends.

Post mortems for the Coroner are normally performed the morning after receipt of the G28. Unless it is likely that there will be an inquest, the consultant and/or GP will be sent a copy of the report.

An inquest is usually held where death is from unnatural causes (e.g. trauma). You may be asked for a statement (through the Patient & Relative Support Officer). On rare occasions you may be asked to attend the inquest; if so always inform your consultant.