INQUESTS
For almost everyone involved in an inquest, the ultimate goal is for someone impartial to say that what has happened, was wrong.
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We have extensive and nationwide experience in Coronial Law, representing clients at pre-inquest review and at inquests themselves. And while the mere prospect of attending court may be daunting, and attendance because of the loss of a loved one extremely painful, you can depend on our resolute support throughout the process.
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Ultimately, as well as justice for our clients, an inquest will also consider whether or not a Prevention of Future Deaths Report should be issued by a coroner to a Hospital Trust. Looking for systemic failures, while it is tragically too late for our client by the time we reach this point, they do become a key part of ensuring that such a tragedy does not easily occur again. For those who have lost loved ones, knowing that their friend or family member’s death was not in vain can bring some much-needed comfort.
When should a death in hospital be reported to the coroner?
A death in hospital should be reported to the Coroner if:
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There is a question of negligence or misadventure about the treatment of the person who died
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The patient died before a provisional diagnosis was made and the general practitioner is not willing to certify the cause
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The patient died as a result of the administration of an anaesthetic
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The Coroner will seek to confirm the identity of the person who has died and establish where they died, when they died and, most importantly, how they died.