Coroner's Postmortem Examination - Northern Ireland Court Service ...

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4 serving the Community through the administration of justiCeWhy a Coroner directs a Postmortemexamination to be Carried outThe law requires that in certain circumstances a death mustbe reported to a Coroner for investigation. The Coroner willusually be notified by a doctor or by the police, where a deathappears to be:• unexpected or unexplained;• as a result of violence;• an accident;• as a result of negligence;• due to industrial disease;• or from any cause other than natural illness or disease.Deaths must also be reported when:• the cause of death is unknown;• a doctor has not seen and treated the person for thefatal illness during the previous 28 days.When a death is reported to the Coroner the police will beauthorised to gather information to assist in the Coroner’sinvestigation. The postmortem examination is a key stagein this investigation. The findings from a postmortemexamination will help to establish the cause of death andwhether any further action on the part of the Coroner or policeis required.The Coroner will decide if a postmortem examination shouldbe carried out. The Coroner will direct the State Pathologist’sDepartment or Hospital Pathology Department to carry it out.Most Coroners’ postmortem examinations are carried outby the State Pathologist’s Department at Northern IrelandRegional Forensic Mortuary.
Coroners Postmortem examination - information for relatives5identifying the bodyYou or another family member may be asked to formallyidentify the body of the deceased. This could either be toa police officer at the place where the death has happenedor it could be later at the mortuary before the postmortemexamination is carried out.representation at a Postmortem examinationMembers of the public are not permitted to attend apostmortem examination as it is a medical procedure,however you may wish to be represented by a medicalpractitioner at the examination but this would be at your ownexpense.funeral arrangementsIf a death is reported to the Coroner you should not finalisefuneral arrangements until the Coroner has authorised therelease of the body for burial or cremation.Once satisfied that the postmortem procedure is completedthe Coroner will release the body to a funeral director ofyour choice and issue a burial or cremation order. Even if theCoroner is going to hold an inquest, the funeral can still takeplace as soon as the Coroner has released the body.The Coroners Liaison Officer or the police will be able toconfirm to you when the Coroner has released the body.
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Coroner's Postmortem Examination - Northern Ireland Court Service ...

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