When A Death Occurs

What should I do if I find a dead body?

It's important that if you find a dead body, you do nothing to disturb the area around the person. Notify the authorities immediately. Contact the police. They will set in motion and involve the people who need to be involved, whether the death is simply a straightforward, natural death or perhaps something more sinister.

Who do I need to contact in the event of an expected death?

In the event of an expected death, a doctor in attendance will normally leave a letter to say that the death is anticipated. When the death occurs, what's described as a competent person can verify it. This will allow the funeral director to be summoned and to move the deceased back into their care.

Who do I need to contact in the event of an unexpected death?

In the even of an unexpected death, it's necessary to contact a doctor and the police. They, if it's necessary, will set in motion the chain of events that are required to have the deceased person taken into the care of the coroner or the appropriate authorities.

What happens when someone dies in hospital?

When someone dies in a hospital, the doctor attendants will issue a death certificate. Arrangements will then be made to have the deceased removed from the ward into the care of the mortuary staff. Family will be asked whether it is their intention to have a cremation or a burial. If they intend to have a cremation, the doctors will make the necessary arrangements to complete the appropriate certificates, Forms B and C, which will allow a cremation to go ahead.

What is a coroner?

Her Majesty's coroner is the person who is charged with making the inquiry into unexpected or unexplained deaths. This could perhaps be the death of someone who hasn't been seen by a doctor for a period of time or perhaps someone who has died as a result of a traffic accident. It could be some act of provision, violence, neglect, someone dying in a hotel. Perhaps an inmate dying in prison. There are a whole raft of areas where the coroner would be involved and investigate, coming to a conclusion in relation to the causes and circumstances of death. Normally a coroner is a qualified doctor or a solicitor.

Who carries out the coroner function in Scotland?

In Scotland, this function is carried out by a uniquely Scottish curator called the procurator fiscal. It's the fiscal's duty to make inquiry into and investigate unexplained deaths.

When does a death need to be reported to the coroner?

A death needs to be reported to the coroner if a person has died suddenly or unexpectedly, or if they haven't been seen by their GP for a period of time. If a death takes place shortly after an operation in a hospital, if someone dies as a result of an accident, homicide or any act of privation. All of these deaths must be reported to the coroner or the procurator fiscal in Scotland.

What is a post mortem, and when is it performed?

A postmortem is an examination of a deceased person to try and acsertain the cause of death. A postmortem will be performed if a coroner or procurators fiscal in Scotland requests that further investigation be made into the cause of death. There can be no objection from family or friends in these circumstances.

Where is a post mortem held, and can I attend?

The post-mortem is normally held under fairly sterile conditions within the forensic department of the mortuary. Only the pathologist, attendents and technicians necessary (perhaps in the case of a homicide senior police officers may also be in attendence) may attend, but family or friends of the deceased may not attend a post-mortem.

Can I stop a post mortem from being performed?

Sometimes a hospital, after a death, may approach a family and ask that a post mortem be performed, purely for the purpose of research or further investigation to perhaps increase the knowledge of the hospital staff. In that case the family will have the right to either consent or to decline the opportunity for a post mortem to take place, but if a post mortem has been ordered by a coroner or in Scotland by the procurator fiscal, then the family have no say whatsoever.

Is the body allowed to be removed from the UK?

A body can be removed from the United Kingdom. Perhaps a family's desire or wish would be that a person who has died here is re-patriated to another country for their eventual cremation or burial. The permission of the coroner has to be sought before this is allowed. He will issue a out-of-England certificate. In Scotland, the local procurator fiscal will issue a Firth of Scotland document. Either of these is used. It is necessary to furnish either of these documents to the relevant shipping or airline company before the remains can be removed from this country.

What happens if the death occurs abroad?

If a death occurs abroad and it's the intention of the family to have the remains brought back to the United Kingdom for cremation, all the documents that come with the deceased, along with the application for the cremation, have to be taken to the home office in London or the Home & Health Department of the Scottish office in Edinburgh. A separate license to cremate is granted by the relevant authorities to allow the crematoriums in England or in Scotland to go ahead and carry out the cremation.