2.3 Sudden Death Flashcards
What is the Police’s role in a sudden death?
Is to act as the Coroner’s agent in investigating a death and gathering evidence to enable the coronor to make determinations.
Includes attending the scene, ID of deceased, and investigation into the circumstances
What deaths must be reported to Police?
Unknown cause, self inflicted, unnatural, violent
medical procedure and was unexpected
death of woman during childbirth
death whilst in custody
No doctors sign off
WHat is the role of NIIO
- manage the cases from the time the death is reported to the duty coroner until the deceased is released to family
- engage a ‘supplier’ to complete body transportation to the mortuary
- keep the families informed as to what is happening throughout the early stages of the coronial process (except where the death is considered suspicious)
- be the conduit and contact centre for the next of kin at the conclusion of Police attendance.
What are the three outcomes of a death investigation?
No inquiry
Inquiry
Inquest
What do you do if media approach you for comment in regards to a sudden death?
Seek advice from the media team
Consult with coronor in cases where Police wish to make comment in relation to an active coronial investigation
What are the 5 ways of identifying a body?
Visual ID
Fingerprints
Odontology
Comparison ID process
DNA
What are the steps for non-visual ID of a body?
Arrange for the body to be photographed and fingerprinted (coroner’s authorisation is required).
Investigate whether there are existing dental records. If so, arrange for a forensic dental exam (coroner’s authorisation required)
Consider building an evidential case for circumstantial ID - fingerprints, medical exam, personal effects from scene
Prepare full description of body, clothing and other effects for publication and comparison
Ensure clothing and effects taken from body are not allowed to deteriorate
Consider DNA comparison
