Coroners Act 2006

Question 1

What is the coroner?

Answer 1

The coroner is a person specially appointed to enquire into the manner of death of any person

Question 2

Deaths that must be reported to the coroner are:

Answer 2

S - suicide
C - cause unknown or no dr’s cert
U - unnatural or violent death
M - medical, surgical or dental procedures
B - birth deaths or deaths related to pregnancy
I - institutional deaths such as deaths in a psychiatric hospital, children’s hospital, prison or while in police custody
E - enactment which requires an inquest

Question 3

Section 33 - Coroners Act 2006

Answer 3

The coroner has authority over who is present during a post-mortem

Question 4

What is a post-mortem?

Answer 4

A post-mortem is an examination of a persons body to determine the cause of death

Question 5

A coroners inquiry is an investigation into the facts, causes and circumstances of the death. The following are the three purposes of a coroners inquiry:

Answer 5

First purpose:

• that a person has died
• the persons identity
• when and where the person died
• the cause of the death
• the circumstances of the death

Second purpose:
- to make recommendations that may, if drawn to the public attention, reduce the chances of the occurrences of other deaths in similar circumstances

Third purpose:
- to determine whether the public interest would be served by the death being investigated by other investigating authorities and to refer the death to other authorities if satisfied that the public interest would be served by their investigating

Question 6

The coroner must hold an inquest into the following deaths:

Answer 6

1. Suicide
2. Any institutional deaths
3. Any death in which the coroner is not satisfied that the cause or circumstances of the death have been clearly established