Coroners are officers appointed by the Council to investigate any sudden or unexplained death. In certain circumstances the death will be referred to the Coroner by the Doctor or the Registrar.
For most patients undergoing palliative care their only brush with the coroner after death will be due to:
- their diagnosis (such as mesothelioma)
- the fact they have not been seen by a doctor in the 14 days prior to their death
- if they are discharged from hospital to die at home and die before being seen by their GP
- or if they die shortly after admission to hospital or hospice
During office hours the doctor concerned with writing the death certificate will, in the circumstances mentioned above, need to discuss the death with the Coroner’s Officer, who is the deputy of the coroner. Out of office hours the role of the coroner’s officer is delegated to the police. Thus, in certain circumstances, there is no option but to have police involved in what seems to be an ‘expected’ death.
Further details may be found here.