A new guidance for coroners was issued by the chief coroner on the 23rd September 2019. The document provides details and advice on when to allow or arrange a second post-mortem (PM) examination with the aim to reduce unnecessary delay and thus further trauma to the family of the deceased. This document supersedes the 1999 Home Office Circular No.30, and is now the go-to reference for coroners when considering instructing a second Post Mortem.
Whilst intended to reduce variance in regional PM and second PM, the guidance reasserts the role of the coroner in their legally enforced right of control over the body of the deceased until the coronial responsibilities come to an end. With this in mind, it is the guidance of the chief coroner that coroners treat requests for second PM with a high level of scrutiny to ensure that no unnecessary delay is caused in the process.
For solicitors and law enforcement this has several key areas of focus;
Through the new guidance, there are special mentions around the issue of road traffic collisions. These are defined as ‘highly contentious’, and a full forensic PM examination will usually only happen in cases where there is a genuine prospect of prosecution (due to careless or dangerous driving for example) and it is emphasised that the suspicion is raised as early in the investigation as possible as a key requirement.
Due to the stress on family of the deceased, when requests for a second PM are rarely acceded to it is advised that non-invasive examinations be used (such as CT examination). The Chief Coroner suggests that requests for further examinations should be ‘examined very carefully’ (Part 5, 78).
The result that this will have on the criminal defence team is simple. Moving to a desktop review, rather than a full second physical examination, should become a priority where possible. A legal professional should work with their forensic service provider or forensic pathologist to consider whether the request for a desktop review is, in their expert opinion, sufficient. In some circumstances they will advise that a full examination is necessary, though this will come with a list of reasons why the initial examination doesn’t answer the questions necessary and therefore provide the reasoning now required by the coroner. Working with your forensic experts in this consultatory style will ensure, ultimately, that you are saving time and using it in the most effective way when it comes to reviewing forensic evidence in a case.
For a free consultation with Forensic Access or to speak with one of our forensic experts, click here to go to our contact us page. The full guidance document can be accessed and downloaded here.
We have an article on the rise of desktop pathology reviews in response to the new guidance, and a fun yet informative Q&A with one of our forensic pathologists, Stuart Hamilton, here.
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