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Local variations in reporting deaths to the coroner in England and Wales: a postcode lottery?
Maxwell Mclean1, Jason Roach, Rachel Armitage
1Crime and Policing Group, University of Huddersfield, , Huddersfield, UK.
Journal of Clinical Pathology
|July 31, 2013
Summary
Reporting deaths to coroners in England and Wales shows significant local variation, influenced by the deceased's gender. These reporting rates remained stable over a decade but lacked clear demographic explanations.
Area of Science:
- Medical Law and Ethics
- Public Health Policy
- Forensic Medicine
Background:
- Doctors in England and Wales must report deaths to a coroner or issue a medical certificate.
- The absence of uniform national guidelines has led to diverse local reporting practices by coroners.
- This study examines variations in death reporting rates to coroners across different jurisdictions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and analyze overall and gender-specific variations in local death reporting rates to coroners.
- To assess the consistency of these reporting rates over time.
- To explore potential explanations for observed variations in reporting practices.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of Ministry of Justice (MOJ) data on deaths reported to coroners from 2001-2010.
- Utilized Office of National Statistics (ONS) data for registered deaths to calculate reporting proportions.
- Accounted for jurisdictional amalgamations by combining relevant data.
Main Results:
- Reporting rates per jurisdiction were stable between 2001 and 2010.
- Significant local variations in reporting rates were observed without clear demographic reasons.
- The deceased individual's gender emerged as a key factor influencing reporting variations.
Conclusions:
- The decision to report a death to a coroner is inconsistent across jurisdictions.
- Findings highlight the need for further research into the factors influencing coroners' decision-making.
- Implications for the effectiveness and fairness of coronial investigations are discussed.
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