Sudden Death

Question 1

SCUMBIE

Answer 1

Suicide.
Cause unknown or no Doctor’s Certificate issued.
Unnatural or violent death.
Medical or surgical or dental operation or procedure (includes administration of anaesthetic or medicine).
Birth deaths or deaths that appear to be the result of pregnancy or giving
birth.
Institutional deaths; that is, deaths in a psychiatric hospital, children’s
home or prison, or while in police custody.
Enactment requires the holding of an inquest

Question 2

The Coroner opens and conducts an inquiry (including any related inquest) for three purposes:

Answer 2

1)The fact that a person has died
The identity of the deceased Deceased Person 
The cause of death 
Where and when the death occurred)
The circumstances of the death

2) is to make recommendations or comments that, in the
Coroner’s opinion, may, if drawn to the public attention reduce the chances of the occurrence of other deaths in circumstances similar to those in which the death occurred.

3)is 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 3

Inquests that must be held

Answer 3

The Coroner must hold an inquiry into the following deaths:
• suicide
• any institutional deaths
• any death in which the Coroner is not satisfied that the cause or circumstances of death have been clearly established.

Question 4

Coroners inquiry

Answer 4

A Coroner’s inquiry is an investigation into the facts, causes and circumstances of the death. It is not to determine civil, criminal or disciplinary liability

Question 5

The Coroners Act 2006, Section 15:

Advising the Coroner

Answer 5

The Police have a duty to report the death immediately to the Coroner designated by the Chief Coroner to receive reports. This is done by phoning the Coroner’s National Initial Investigation Office (NIIO).

Question 6

(POL 265A)

Answer 6

A Deceased Person Identification Form (POL 265A) is taken from the identifying witness.

Question 7

POL 47

Answer 7

Initial Report to Coroner:

This is a form that can be located under ‘Police Forms’ in Microsoft Word. One copy goes to each of the following: the Coroner, the pathologist and the Police file.

The report is a summary, set out in chronological order, covering all the details and circumstances surrounding the death.

Question 8

POL47A

Initial Report to Coroner:

Answer 8

This form is similar in appearance to the POL 47, however POL 47A is to be used in the case of sudden unexplained death in infancy. An example of this is when the cause of the infant’s death is not obvious or suspicious and occurs while the child has been sleeping. See example under ‘Preparing the File’.