Coroners Inquest
When an individual dies and the cause of death is unknown, or where the circumstances suggest that the cause of death should be investigated, the death will be reported to the local Coroner by either the deceased’s doctor, the police, or a concerned relative. Once reported the death cannot be registered until the Coroner has concluded the cause and circumstances surrounding it, and the funeral will usually be delayed.
The Coroner will order some investigations to be carried out, and in some cases a post-mortem will be required. A relative does not have a right to object to a post-mortem ordered by the Coroner, but they are permitted to inform the Coroner if they have religious or other strong objections.
If the Coroner concludes that the death was due to natural causes, he will issue notification of this and the death can then be registered.
If the cause of death is still uncertain, or where the death was violent or unnatural or took place in prison or under police custody, a public inquiry will be held and the next of kin and the Personal Representative(s) of the deceased will be informed.
The public enquiry is held in a Court, and is presided over by the Coroner. It is called an Inquest. Medical and circumstantial evidence will be presented at the Inquest, sometimes in the presence of a jury, and questions may be asked of the witnesses. The medical evidence is often very technical. Relatives are permitted to attend and to ask a Solicitor to represent them, and it is important that any representative lawyer has an understanding of medical terminology so that the important questions may be asked. It may be particularly important to have a Solicitor represent you if the circumstances of the death could lead to a claim for compensation or a prosecution.
Once the Inquest has finished the Coroner will conclude the cause of death and the circumstances surrounding it, and the death may then be registered.
Inquests can be a daunting experience, and the outcome can make a significant difference to the surviving relatives.
If you would like confidential advice about a pending Inquest, or of the merits of appealing against an unsatisfactory Coroner’s decision, please contact:
Charles Cooper
Profile
T: 01626 332266
E: cjac@haroldmichelmore.co.uk
© Harold Michelmore Solicitors 2009
Please note that the information and advice in this Note is provided for general guidance only. We believe it is accurate and up to date, but you must seek personal advice on any specific case or matter. We cannot accept liability for your reliance only on information or advice in this note.