Family The immediate family of the person who died can ask for information such as medical reports, patient notes, the post-mortem report, toxicology report, suicide notes, and photos. There may be some fees to copy documents. We will discuss any fees with you first. Back to top Popular forms Coronial services forms Back to top This page was last updated: 28th October Related Links Statistical data about coronial cases. We place some essential cookies on your device to make this website work.
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The majority of post midth century records of inquests are held at local archives and not The National Archives. It was common practice from to for coroners to hand over records of all their inquests to assize judges. These records were subsequently transferred to The National Archives. Those which resulted in verdicts of murder or manslaughter including many that would now be regarded as misadventure are normally found in the indictments or depositions files of the relevant circuit.
As London and Middlesex were anomalous jurisdictions without assize courts, their inquisitions were not treated in the same way. However, a final written report may not be available for some time as further tests may need to be carried out and these can take time to complete. They will also be able to say if any organs or tissue have been retained following the post-mortem examination. The family will be informed when this happens and they may also request a copy of the final report from the Coroner.
The report may contain complex medical terminology, and the family may wish to discuss the findings with their family doctor. Family members may feel that they would like to discuss the post-mortem examination with the pathologist who carried it out. The pathologist, with the authority of the Coroner, may need to retain any organs and tissue samples removed at the post-mortem examination to assist in the investigation into the death.
The Royal College of Pathologists recommends that tissue blocks and slides form part of the medical pathology records and that they should be retained in case they need to be reviewed at a later time.
If they are retained, access to them will be strictly controlled and they will not be used for any purpose without permission of the next of kin. This means it may not be possible to have the case more fully reviewed or to seek a second opinion at a later date. The body will be prepared by the mortuary staff and then released to an undertaker who can make arrangements for family and relatives to view the body. Normally any incisions cuts that have been made during the post-mortem examination will not be visible.
The funeral director will be able to tell you if there are any visible signs of the examination before you view the body. The body is normally released immediately after the post-mortem examination. Very rarely, usually in criminal cases, it may be necessary for the pathologist to retain the body for further re-examination.
If this is the case, the family will be given information about this and every effort will be made to release the body as quickly as possible.
If the death was due to natural causes which a doctor is able to confirm, the Coroner will advise the Registrar by issuing a Coroner's notification and the death can be registered and a death certificate issued. However, if a post-mortem examination is ordered, or, if an inquest is to be held, then the death cannot be registered until the Coroner's investigation has been completed.
In these circumstances funeral arrangements should not be finalised until the Coroner has authorised the release of the body for burial or cremation. A funeral may take place once the Coroner is satisfied that the body is no longer required for the investigation. Even if the Coroner is going to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death, the funeral can still take place as soon as the Coroner has released the body.
An inquest is an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding a death. The purpose of the inquest is to find out who the deceased person was and how, when and where they died and to provide the details needed for their death to be registered. It is not a trial. It is not for the Coroner to decide, or appear to decide any question of criminal or civil liability or to apportion guilt or attribute blame. Inquests are open to the public and the media. Coroners decide who should take part to give evidence as witnesses at an inquest.
You can make an appointment with the hospital consultant or a general practitioner to discuss the report's findings. If the hospital has a bereavement office the staff there can often arrange this for you or you can approach the consultant's own secretary through the hospital switchboard. Contact us on We're open from 9am to 5pm Mon - Fri. We are closed on bank holidays.
Home Topics Death certificate and coroner's inquest Obtaining post mortem results. Obtaining post mortem results. Coroners' post mortem examination results The Coroner or Coroner's Officer will give you the cause of death found by the pathologist at a coroner's post mortem examination. Hospital post mortem examination results Consented post mortem examination results have to be requested from the hospital where the examination took place.
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