The Coronial Inquest

see Testifying in an inquest
see The Coroner's report

The warrant

• The Coroner obtains information by issuing a warrant
• These powers are more far reaching than an ordinary police search warrant
• On receipt of a warrant the hospital or doctor must release the medical record i.e all pathology results, x-rays, ICU records and any other information, which may assist in determining the cause of death
• the doctor or hospital are urged to copy the notes prior to surrender
• the notes will not be returned until the matter is finalised.

The doctors involved in the care of the patient are welcome to speak with the pathologist who is to conduct the post mortem. The doctor may have relevant information, have a particular interest in the matter or be interested to know what is found. The Coroner has no objection to such approaches.

Expert testimony

• In reaching a decision as to whether a medical death will be the subject of an inquest, the Coroner will rely heavily on experts.
• Experts will generally be independent from the hospital or area which was involved in the death and will have expertise in the medical condition which is the subject of the investigation.

This is based on a risk management seminar given by the MDASA on 17th July, 2001.  SJ