Booklet content © Victims Voice 2002                             Web design © Tim Finucane 2009

7. Can coroners’ or consented post
    mortems be objected to or limited ?

 

You should make the coroner aware, in writing, of any religious or cultural reasons for not wanting a post mortem performed, but the law requires that a coroner establishes a cause of death. There may be no other way to do this and a coroner’s post mortem (Section 10) can be done without your consent. If doctors want a post mortem to confirm or learn more about the cause of death or for research or teaching, their reasons must be explained to you and your written consent must be obtained - this is a consented post mortem (Section 10), which can be limited.