Coroner jobs

A coroner will conduct an investigation into the passing of an individual whose passing was unexpected. A hearing before the coroner will also be held in the event that someone committed suicide, passed away from an occupational illness, passed away as the result of medical malpractice, or died in an accident.

What exactly does a coroner do?

The Crown is responsible for making appointments to the position of coroner within the judicial system. In order to ascertain the reasons for a person's death or the circumstances surrounding it, it is their responsibility to listen to the testimony of witnesses and specialists.

Coroners are considered independent judicial authorities and as such are required to have a legal background. You have to be a qualified barrister or solicitor with a minimum of five years' worth of experience in the field after you qualified in order to become a coroner. In addition to their legal education, some coroners also have a medical degree in their arsenal of skills.

What exactly does the job of the coroner entail?

Local authorities are responsible for appointing coroners to conduct investigations when the circumstances surrounding a death are ambiguous or otherwise unknown. Examples of this include the following:

It is not known what caused the death.

The death was either unexpected or the result of foul play.

The individual passed away while being held in jail or prison.

The identity of the individual who has passed away cannot be confirmed or established at this time.

There is not a medical certificate that can be provided.

It is the responsibility of the coroner to determine the cause of death, as well as the date, time, and location of the decedent's passing, not only for the sake of official records but also for the benefit of the grieving family.

In rare instances, the coroner will determine that it is obvious what caused the decedent's death. After that, a certificate confirming that a post-mortem examination is not required will be issued to the registrar by the medical examiners. After that, you will be able to report the death to the registrar of vital statistics.

After conducting an initial investigation into a death, a coroner may determine that a post-mortem examination is necessary if the cause of death or the circumstances surrounding the death are still unclear to them.

Post-mortem exams

Post-mortem exams, which are often referred to as autopsies, are performed by a pathologist and entail the examination of the deceased person's body for clues as to the cause of death.

In the event that the post-mortem is fruitful and elucidates the cause of death, the coroner will submit a form to the registrar of vital statistics detailing the reason of death. After that, they will allow the corpse to be released so that the funeral may take place.

The coroner will open an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of the victim if the post-mortem report is unable to identify the cause of death or if it indicates that a crime may have been committed.

How long does it take for the coroner to do an investigation?

An inquest is a formal inquiry into the circumstances behind a person's death. If the coroner has reason to think that the person died from a violent or unnatural death, or if the individual died while in the custody of the police or in a jail, an inquest is required to be held.

Is it possible to have the funeral before the inquest?

You are not allowed to record a death until the coroner's investigation is finished. On the other hand, the coroner is able to issue an interim death certificate, which enables you to make an application for probate and carry out funeral services.

Inquests often need the help of a jury, and if the inquiry finds that the decedent's death was the consequence of a criminal conduct, there is a possibility that criminal charges will be brought against the responsible party.