When the coroner is involved
The coroner for East Sussex is responsible for investigating sudden or suspicious deaths and establishing the causes of such deaths. In some instances, the coroner may determine the cause of death after consultation with the doctor of the deceased. At other times, a post mortem examination is necessary.
In some cases, a full inquest will be necessary and a jury might be called to reach a verdict.
When is a death reported to the coroner?
In some circumstances the death must be reported to the coroner. You will be told if this is necessary, and the report will normally be made by the doctor or the registrar. This happens when:
- there is no doctor who can issue a medical certificate of cause of death
- the deceased was not seen by the doctor issuing the medical certificate after death nor within 14 days before death
- the cause of death is unknown
- the cause of death is believed to be unnatural or suspicious
- death occurred during an operation or before recovery from an anaesthetic
- death is due to industrial disease or industrial poisoning.
Once a death has been reported to the coroner, the registrar cannot go ahead with the registration until the coroner has decided whether any further investigation into the death is necessary.
In most cases no further investigation is necessary and the registration can be completed straightaway.
What the coroner can do
If a death is referred to the coroner they will decide to take one of three actions:
- no further action – they will refer the death back to the doctor who will issue the medical cause of death certificate and issue a form (Part A) direct to the registration office
- carry out a post mortem – once this has been completed you can register the death with a form (Part B) sent direct to the registration office
- hold an inquest – on completion of the inquest the coroner will register the death and pass all necessary paperwork directly to the funeral director. The death certificate issued by the registrar will not be available until the inquest has been held.
Contact details
Contact details for the East Sussex Coroners' Office.
