If the death is referred to the Coroner
The Registration Service has a duty to refer all deaths to the Coroner which appear to have occurred from unnatural causes , violence , accident or industrial disease . The police also refer cases . The Coroner may investigate and decide to order a post mortem , or in some cases , the Coroner may decide to hold an Inquest .
The Coroner is an independent judicial oficer who makes inquiries into deaths for instance where :
• the cause of death is unknown
• the deceased was not attended by a doctor within the previous 28 days prior to death or after death , or had not been seen by a doctor during the last illness
• the death was violent or unnatural or occurred under suspicious circumstances
• the death occurred during a surgical operation or failure to recover from an anaesthetic
• the death may be as a result of an accident ( whenever it occurred )
• the death may be suicide
• the death was due to an industrial disease
• the death occurred during or shortly after police detention or prison custody .
Following the Coroner ’ s inquiries , if the cause of death is from a natural cause , and a doctor can issue the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death ( MCCD ), the Coroner will issue a supporting document called a Form A ( No Post Mortem Held ). The family can then make an appointment with the Registration Service to register the death .
If following a post mortem examination or from further investigations , an unnatural cause of death is established , the Coroner will open an Inquest . The Coroner may issue a certificate confirming the fact of death , sometimes called an ‘ Interim Death Certificate .’ Although this cannot be used to register the death , it may be used to proceed with the funeral and to assist in the administration of the Estate .
An Inquest is an enquiry to establish who the deceased was and how , when and where they died . If you request it , the Coroner will explain the reasons for the procedures adopted in particular cases as long as the Coroner is satisfied that the person has a proper interest and a right to know .
On conclusion of the Inquest , the Coroner ’ s Oficers will provide the next of kin with information about how to obtain certified Death Certificates . There is a fee payable for these certificates .
For further information please refer to the booklet entitled ‘ Guide to Coroner Services ’ ( available to view and download at :
www . gov . uk ) or contact the Buckinghamshire Coroner ’ s Ofice on ( 01494 ) 475505 .
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If it is not possible to issue the MCCD stating the cause of death , the Coroner can order a post mortem examination . Following the post mortem examination , if a natural cause of death is established , the Coroner will issue a Form B ( Post Mortem held under section 14 of the Coroners & Justice Act 2009 ). This will allow the family to make an appointment to register the death .