Coroners service
Coroners are a type of judge who investigate deaths where there is reason to suspect that the death is of unknown cause, is violent or unnatural or that the death occurred in custody.
The Coroner investigates such deaths in order to establish who, where and when a person died and how, meaning by what means, a person has died. It may be necessary for a CT scan, or a more rarely, post mortem examination to be carried out either to determine the cause of death or assist in providing information as to other aspects of the investigation. Certain deaths require an inquest that will be conducted in a local court by the Coroner.
Medical Examiner's Service
The Medical Examiners Service is run by local NHS healthcare trusts and reviews all deaths not considered by the Coroner. The Medical Examiners Service is completely independent from the coroner's service. A medical examiner looks at the cause of death offered by the treating doctor, reviews the treatment, and assists the treating doctor in establishing the cause of death that the Registrar of Births Marriages and Deaths will accept. If the medical examiner has concerns about the treatment, they will refer the case to the Coroner's Service.
Deaths that need to be reported to the coroner
Deaths are reported to the Coroner from a variety of sources such as doctors, the police, carers, families and the medical examiner. The medical examiner will report the following deaths to the Coroner if not already reported to by someone else:
- where there is no doctor who can issue a medical certificate of cause of death or do so within a reasonable period of time
- where the cause of death is unknown
- where the cause of death is believed to be unnatural or suspicious
- where the death occurred during an operation or before recovery from an anaesthetic
- where the death is due to industrial disease or industrial poisoning
Non-invasive post mortem examinations
A coroner's post mortem is usually undertaken using a CT scan (non-invasive post mortem examination) similar to that you might receive if you attended hospital as a patient. In some circumstances, it is necessary for an invasive post mortem to take place that allows for more extensive analysis of samples to be undertaken. The coroner's officer will discuss with the family what type of post mortem is to be undertaken and why this is necessary. The Coroner does not require the consent of the next of kin for any type of post mortem but will listen to objections that the family wish to raise before coming to any decision. In a limited number of cases a cause of death will not be able to be determined from a CT scan and the coroner may need to ask a pathologist to conduct a limited or full invasive post mortem.
Copies of the CT/post mortem report will normally be available to the next of kin and, if there is an inquest, to other persons who may be involved in the death
When the funeral can be held
A coroner’s investigation may include a CT scan or invasive post mortem depending on the circumstances of the death. If this reveals that the death was due to natural causes, the coroner will conclude the enquires and the body will be released to the executors (if there is a will) or administrators (if there is no will) or the next of kin. The death should then be registered as soon as possible (and always within 7 days) with the Registrar of Births Marriages and Deaths after which the funeral can take place. A registrar cannot register the death or issue a death certificate until the body has been released by the Coroner.
If an inquest is needed, a death cannot be registered until the inquest has been completed. In these circumstances, the Coroner will issue an interim certificate that will allow the funeral to take place and the deceased person's financial affairs to be put in order.
Inquest
An inquest is an inquiry conducted in court into:
- Who has died
- When and where the death occurred, and
- How, meaning "by what means", the death occurred
A coroner’s inquest does not deal with questions of blame, negligence or whether or not a crime has been committed. The inquest takes various forms depending upon the circumstances of the death. In some deaths, the family may wish only to have the information contained in the documents sent to and the Coroner considers the matter in court with no witnesses present. Alternatively, in more complex cases, factual and expert witnesses may give evidence, when it is not unusual for lawyers to be present representing the various interested persons. In such situations, if a person does not have their own lawyer, the coroner will ensure that everything is explained in such a way that all those participating in the inquest do so on an equal footing. Should you wish to attend, you will be able to hear all of the evidence and the explanations given concerning the above questions. A coroner's inquest is a public hearing to which anyone may attend and this includes members of the press: the Coroner does not have a power to exclude any person except for contempt of court. At the end of the inquest, the Coroner will summarise the evidence and give their conclusion, which used to be called a verdict. Cases may have conclusions such as natural causes, accident, drugs related death, suicide, misadventure (the act leading to death was intended but the outcome was not), industrial disease et cetera. Alternatively, the Coroner may use a narrative conclusion, which is a brief summary of the facts found proved from the evidence heard in court .
Taking the body abroad or bringing it back to this country
If you wish to take the body abroad, you must give written notice to the coroner. The coroner will then produce the documentation to take the body abroad provided there is neither a reason nor an objection to take the body abroad.
If you wish to bring the body back to England or Wales, the coroner will need to be involved if the cause of death is unknown or the deceased has died an unnatural death in some way. In certain circumstances, an inquest may be necessary. You can ask for advice from your local Coroner's Office.
Reporting treasure finds to the coroner
The Coroner also deals with finds within the area administered by the Coroner that may be classed as treasure. This usually involves historical artefacts found at archaeological sites this and by metal detectorists that are verified by Museum authorities before the matter is considered at inquest.
Coroners' offices
Coroner's Court
2 Faraday Court
Faraday Drive
Preston
Lancashire
PR2 9NB
Telephone: 01772 536536
Email: coroners@lancashire.gov.uk
Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen
HM Senior Coroner
Dr James R H Adeley
HM Area Coroners
Mr Christopher Long
Miss Kate Bisset