Sudden Death

Question 1

Deaths that must be reported to the coroner

Answer 1

• a death that appears to have been without known cause, or self inflicted, or unnatural or violent
  -a death that occurred during, or appears to have been the result of, a medical procedure and that was medically unexpected
• the death of a woman that occurred while the woman was giving birth, or that appears to have been a result of the woman being pregnant or giving birth
• a death in offical custody or care
• a death for which no doctor has given a doctors certificate

Question 2

What is NIIOs role
(National Initial Investigation Office)

Answer 2

• manage the case from the time the death is reported to the duty coroner until the deceased is released to the family
• engage a “supplier” to complete body transportation to the mortuary
• keep families informed as to what is happening throughout the early stages of the coronial process ( except when suspicious)
• be the conduit and contact centre for the next of kin at the conclusion of police attendance

Question 3

What does the coroner determine

Answer 3

• whether to take coronial jurisdiction over the death
• whether verification of death has been adequately established
• whether evidence of ID of the deceased is adequate
• whether to direct a post mortem and if so the level of any post mortem (full or lesser)
• who may attend the post mortem
• when the body can be released

Question 4

What are the coroners three pathways to conclusion of investigation

Answer 4

• conclude the coronial investigation without opening an inquiry
• open and conduct an inquiry into the death but conclude that inquiry without proceeding to a formal court hearing
• open and conduct an inquiry and as part of the inquiry conduct a formal hearing in the coroners court called an inquest

Question 5

Who can verify death

Answer 5

-Registered medical practitioner
- nurse (practitioner, registered or enrolled)
- registered midwife
- intensive care paramedic
- paramedic
- emergency medical technician

Question 6

What is the hierarchy of identification for sudden death

Answer 6

• visual identification
• fingerprints
• odontology
• comparison identification process
• DNA