Sudden Death, Coroner & Inquests, Missing Persons

Question 1

SCUMBIE

Answer 1

Deaths that MUST be REPORTED:

Suicide
Cause Unknown, No Dr Cert
Unnatural, or Violent
Medical, Surgical, Dental
Birth, Pregnancy Death
Institutional Care Deaths
Enactments that Require it

Question 2

Post-Mortem

Answer 2

[After Death]

An Examination of a persons body to find out how and why they died.
Authorised by the Coroner,
Performed by a Pathologist

Coroner makes ultimate decision on a post-mortem, and who is present during it.

A Post-Mortem can be stopped/challenged through the courts, by Immediate Family

Question 3

First Purpose of Inquest

Answer 3

To ESTABLISH;
That someone HAS DIED,
The Deceased IDENTITY,
The CAUSE of death,
WHERE, WHEN it occurred
CIRCUMSTANCES of death

Question 4

Second Purpose of Inquest

Answer 4

To RECOMMEND,
CHANGES that if followed
REDUCE occurrence of SIMILAR DEATHS

Question 5

Third Purpose of Inquest

Answer 5

DECIDE if OTHER investigations, by outside AUTHORITIES, should occur.
with the intent to better INFORM public interest and SAFETY

Question 6

Requirement for Inquest

Answer 6

Any of the following DEATHS are REQUIRED to be investigated by INQUEST:

SUICIDE,
INSTITUTIONAL death,
UNSATISFACTORY, or NOT CLEARLY ESTABLISHED circumstances

Question 7

Authority to Verify Death and complete declaration.

Answer 7

Medical Practitioners, Nurses, Emergency Medical Practitioners

Question 8

Medical Certificate

Answer 8

A DOCTORS certificate that verifies the cause of death and in most cases avoids the need for coroner, or police involvement.

Question 9

Missing Person defined

Answer 9

Any PERSON reported MISSING to police,

And

Whereabouts UNKNOWN

And

FEARS for SAFETY, or WELFARE

Question 10

Categories of Missing Persons

Answer 10

Voluntary:
Runaways, Spousal Desertion

Involuntary:
Kidnapping, Abduction, Mental Health

Lost:
At Sea, In Bush/Country, Car Accident

Missing Overseas:
Reported to Police in NZ, family member non-contact from overseas
Or,
Foreign Nationals Reported from interested parties in other countries

Question 11

Assessing Risk to Missing Person

Answer 11

Establish:
Fears for Safety realistic?
and,
Why?

Age: Child, Elderly?
Zones of Safety: Mental, or Physical Disability, Hiking/Tramping, Sailing
Circumstances: Signs of Struggle, Forced Entry, Blood at last known location.
Influences: Drugs, Alcohol, Gangs, Mental deterioration