Coroners Procedures & Deceased Persons

Question 1

What do you do when discovering an apparent death or someone at risk of dying?

Answer 1

• Immediately check if the person is dead. If any possibility of life is remaining apply appropriate first aid/resuscitation
• Take all possible steps to preserve life
• Immediately get medical attention and continue resus until help arrives
• Adhere strictly to guidelines on infection control

Question 2

What categories of death require mandatory notification to the Coroner?

Section?

Answer 2

S. 6 Coroners Act 2009 -

VSSDDDDI

• Violent/unnatural
• Sudden death where cause unknown
• Suspicious or unusual circumstances
• Death not reasonably expected outcome of health procedure
• Death while in or temporarily absent from MH facility
• Death in custody (includes police operation, escape, attempting to escape)
• Death of children/disabled persons
• If no death certificate is issued

Question 3

Conditions for Medical Certificate to be issued?

Answer 3

• Deceased must have been treated within 6 months prior to death
• Must stem from a condition doctor was treating

Question 4

Basic steps for Deceased’s (reportable deaths)

Answer 4

• First priority – preserving life
• Crime scene considerations – Consent, coronial order, preserve evidence)
• Ascertain SNOK – advise, coroner brochure, counselling
• Arrange CS attendance
• Search body – remove any property, record details, retain exhibits
• ID statement
• ID tag
• Government contractors
• COPS event
• P79A
• Investigations

*Canvass if NOK requests inquest

Question 5

Investigations for Deceased’s?

Answer 5

• Statements – Witnesses, NOK
• Gather evidence to establish:
• Time/date of death
• Location of death
• ID of deceased (if necessary)
• Cause/manner of death
• Last to see alive
• Death specific
• Suicide: Seize electronics, suicide note, ligatures, rope etc
• OD: seize drugs
• Murder: seize weapons, electronics etc
• OIC statement – include hearsay/opinion evidence, your opinion re cause of death

Question 6

SNOK order of priority?
Section?

Answer 6

S. 4 Coroners Act 2009
* Spouse
* Children
* Parents
* Siblings
* Executor of will/legal rep

Question 7

What powers are available to police within the Coroners Act in terms of examining Crime Scenes?

Answer 7

S. 40 Coroners Act 2009
* For purposes of investigating/inquiry, Coronor may issue a Coronial Investigation Scene Order to police to:
- Establish coronial investigation scene
- Exercise coronial investigation scene powers
- Enter and stay at place for those purposes

Question 8

What are the powers?

Answer 8

Same CS powers as LEPRA plus:
- Take possession of remains of deceased including tissue, clothing etc
- Remove remains to location nominated by coroner

Question 9

Considerations for hanging?

Answer 9

• If possibility of life, cut down keep ligature intact and commence 1st aid
• If defiantly deceased, leave insitu, conceal from public view
• Ligature + plastic bag/other exhibit accompany body to morgue

Question 10

Considerations for Suicide notes?

Answer 10

• Handle carefully (consider forensics)
• Have family/friend verify handwriting/signature
• Retain original and provide copy to coroner immediately

Question 11

Criteria for reporting fires to Coroner?

Answer 11

• Damage exceeds $500 000
• Death/serious injury
• Known person suspected of causing fire (whether or not charged)
• High profile/media attention

Question 11

Considerations for Suicide?

Answer 11

Make enquiries into MH/General Outlook
- Hospitals/MH instituations
- Family, friends, colleagues – statements if necessary
- Follow CS preservation protocols (CS attendance, CS log, boundary)
- Seek all evidence that proves/disproves suicide

Question 12

Initial response at scene of fire?

Answer 12

• Identify safety hazards/dangers
• Establish circumstances – canvass, witnesses, CCTV, info from Fire NSW
• Determine cause and origin
• Description of damage and approx. value
• Evidence of forced entry
• Smell of accelerant?
• Location and ID or witnesses
• Location and ID of owner/occupier
• Integrity of CS

Question 13

What section gives the power to obtain documents and things for a Coronial Investigation?

Answer 13

S. 53 Coroners Act
* Order made for person/agency to produce document or thing to the Coroner to assist the
investigation of a death or fire

Question 14

Enquiries at SUDI death?

Answer 14

• Checked before bed? What was done? (Nappy change, fed, medicine, pat, etc)
• Anything unusual noticed?
• Was infant settled or restless
• Anything found in cot?
• Moved after being found?
• Was clothing, bedding etc changed?

Question 15

What should you include in a Coroners Brief?

Answer 15

• OIC Statement. Needs to be detailed and comprehensive. Summarise all evidence and provide an overall picture to the coroner. Include hearsay and your opinion as to cause of death
• All conversations should be recorded contemporaneously.
• Witness/NOK statements
• Any information relating to cause of death, time, location, manner
• Exhibits seized? (Rope, suicide note, medication, alcohol/drugs)
• Photographs/sketches of CS.
• Expert statements (Forensics/Medical)

Question 16

SCENARIO

• You attend a premises in response to a request from mobile supervisor in relation to a deceased person. On arrival you speak with a man who states thar he arrived at the premises to take his brother to a local drug clinic but, on entering the bedroom, he had found his brother lying on the bed, apparently deceased. You go inside the premises, accompanied by the brother and go to the bedroom in which the deceased is located. You recognise him as a known drug addict who appears to have died from a drug overdose.

What procedure would you now follow?

Answer 16

• Assess any hazards, dangers (needles/syringes, blood, vomit)
• Secure the scene. (CS Tape, inner and outer perimeter) remove the brother and obtain his details.
• Call supervisor/Detectives. Notify VKG
• Check the body.
• Arrange for crime scene attendance. Notify CS officers of all information available.
• Seize any exhibits (drugs, alcohol, prescriptions)
• Record exhibits seized
• ID procedures with NOK
• Search body and remove any property. Seize if necessary
• ID tag
• Government contractors
• COPS event
• P79A
• Investigations (witness/nok statement, receipts/cctv of alcohol purchases)

Question 17

SCENARIO

• You attend the scene of an elderly deceased person. The supervisor tells you the police found an elderly male deceased on the bed at the premises. No relative is present and no inquiries have been commenced. Upon further investigation, you establish there are no suspicious circumstances. For non-suspicious circumstances, police have certain actions and responsibilities for coronial matters.

What are the actions and responsibilities?

Answer 17

• DO NOT assume the death is a result of natural causes until a doctor certifies this
• Make enquiries into NOK/family members and any witnesses
• Determine who lasts saw alive. Enquire mental and health state.
• Notify CS/Forensics – Advise of circumstances and they can determine attendance
• Make enquiries in relation to doctor. (Within 6 months? Conditions? Medication?)
• Conduct search of premises (Medication, drugs, prescriptions)
• Record all actions and property seized in notebook
• Arrange for NOK to attend (ID)
• Death certificate
• If yes: Funeral Homes
• If no: Government contractors, P79A, Life extinct certificate, ID certificate
• Search the body and remove/seize items if necessary
• ID Tag
• EFIMS
• COPS Event