Initial Steps After a Death Is Reported to the Coroner

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Initial steps after a death is reported to the Coroner Understanding the NSW coronial jurisdiction The NSW coronial jurisdiction serves the community through investigating circumstances and causes of death in a respectful and professional manner. It is a very painful experience when the death of a relative or friend occurs suddenly, unexpectedly, or in traumatic circumstances. We acknowledge that for deaths reported to the Coroner, there may be added distress in having to deal with the legal processes as well as the natural grief. Coroners and their support staff offer you and your family our sincere condolences. We are here to provide support to you. We will treat you, and your relative in our care, with dignity and respect. This brochure contains information you need to know immediately after the death of your loved one is reported to the Coroner. Further information about the coronial jurisdiction is available on the Coroners Court website at www.coroners.justice.nsw.gov.au

The role of the Coroner In Sydney, the State and senior Coroners are located at the Coroners Court at Lidcombe. In regional areas, Coroners sit as Magistrates in Local Courts around NSW. The Coroner is required by law to investigate sudden, unexpected and unnatural deaths to determine the identity, date, place, circumstances and medical cause of death. In some cases the Coroner can make recommendations following an inquest to improve public safety and prevent future deaths.

2 Initial contact and admission you should have this role and proof of your relationship to the Police report sudden, unexpected deceased (where possible). or unexplained deaths to the Coroner. In Sydney your loved The senior next-of-kin is one will be taken into the care of advised of the types of medical the forensic medicine service at examinations or tests that Lidcombe. In regional areas, your are required. When these are loved one will be taken into the completed your loved one will care of the local hospital pending be released into the care of the a decision by the Coroner in regard funeral director nominated by to a post mortem examination. the senior next-of-kin. The senior If a post mortem examination next‑of-kin is also assisted and is required your loved one will supported by specialist social be taken into the care of either workers throughout this initial the forensic medicine service at admission process. Newcastle or Wollongong. Examinations that may be If you are the senior next-of-kin, ordered by the Coroner coronial support staff will usually contact you within 24 hours to All deaths reported to the Coroner let you know what is happening. are reviewed by specialist forensic You may be asked to formally medicine and investigative teams. identify your loved one, and These teams gather medical and provide further information about other information about your the circumstances surrounding loved one to avoid unnecessary the death. examinations or transfers, particularly in regional areas. The role of the senior The role of the team is to gather as next‑of‑kin much evidence as is necessary to The senior next-of-kin (or their enable the Coroner to determine nominee) is a person confirmed the cause of death using the least as the main point of contact invasive method. This evidence throughout the coronial can involve any of the following investigation. The senior types of examination: a review of next‑of‑kin is determined by law. the medical records, computed If you are not the senior next‑of‑kin tomography (CT) scanning, blood and think you should be, please toxicology testing, an external email the Coroners Court where examination, a coronial post the death was reported. Include in mortem examination, or a the email reasons why you think combination of any of these.

3 The majority of examinations next-of-kin advising they have 48 ordered by the Coroner are hours to apply to the Supreme minimally invasive. In some cases Court for an order preventing the where the cause of death cannot post mortem. Legal assistance be found, a coronial post mortem may be needed to make a is required. A coronial post Supreme Court application. Senior mortem is performed by a highly next-of-kin are requested to inform specialised forensic pathologist. coronial support staff immediately It is similar to a surgical operation if they do not wish to proceed to and includes examination of the Supreme Court. internal organs. Organ retention and When deciding the type of tissue samples examination required, the religious and cultural needs of As part of the post mortem process, the family will be considered. tissue samples may be collected to The senior next-of-kin will be determine the cause of death. In a informed before any examination small number of cases, organs may commences and they will have need to be retained for more testing. an opportunity to object. If this is required a coronial support officer will contact the senior If there is an objection, senior next‑of-kin to obtain their consent. next-of-kin are requested to inform the Coroner (at the If the senior next-of-kin objects to court to which the death was the organ retention they will need reported) by email as soon to send their objection by email as possible. to the Coroner. If the Coroner still determines the organs need to Objection to a post be retained, notice will be sent mortem examination to the senior next-of-kin advising they have 48 hours to apply to The senior next-of-kin can the Supreme Court for an order formally object to a post mortem preventing retention of the organ. examination by sending written advice by email to the Support services Coroner stating their reasons Specialist social workers are for the objection. available through the forensic If the Coroner decides a post medicine service to assist you and mortem is still required after your family with emotional and considering the written reasons, practical support. notice will be sent to the senior

4 They can help you with a range Personal possessions of things such as: Personal possessions, such as • speaking with your family mobile phones, jewellery and other doctor, school or workplace valuables are generally collected • understanding the coronial by police at the place of death and process, reports and timeframes returned to the senior next-of-kin • a referral to other support or later. Occasionally, police may keep local counselling services. some items for forensic examination. You may want to view your relative Any personal possessions with your or friend who has died. This is loved one when they are admitted usually arranged with your funeral into our care are given to your director, however viewing can nominated funeral director when your be done at one of the specialist loved one is taken into their care. forensic medicine facilities at Any enquiries concerning your Sydney (Lidcombe), Newcastle loved one’s property should be or Wollongong. directed to the police officer who reported the death to the Coroner.

5 Planning the funeral

You can contact the funeral director of your choice at any time to start planning the funeral. However, do not set a date for the funeral until you receive confirmation of the date your loved one is able to be released from our care. Medical examinations and testing are usually carried out within three days (excluding weekends) of your loved one being admitted into our care. In more complex cases this can be longer. If your loved one died in regional NSW, coronial support staff will arrange transport of your loved one, with our contracted provider, to your chosen funeral home in regional NSW.

6 Planning the funeral

Obtaining a death certificate In some circumstances organisations such as banks, Death certificates are issued real estate agents, or Centrelink by the NSW Registry of Births will accept a confirmation of death Deaths and Marriages. An interim letter issued by coronial support certificate can be issued even staff. If you require this document, though the Coroner has not yet please email your request to the determined the cause of death. Coroners Court where the death Your funeral director completes was reported. all the paperwork and registers the death with the NSW Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages. If the Coroner has not determined the cause of death in the initial stages, an interim certificate can be issued on request. Once the cause of death is determined by the Coroner, please return the interim certificate and the NSW Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages will issue a standard death certificate.

7 HELPFUL CONTACTS

Coroners Court Lidcombe Legal Aid Coronial Inquest Unit 1A Main Avenue, Lidcombe 2414 T: (02) 9219 5000 T: (02) 8584 7777 W: www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au/ E: Lidcombe.coroners@ what-we-do/civil-law/ justice.nsw.gov.au coronial-inquest-matters W: www.coroners.justice.nsw. gov.au Centrelink Bereavement T: 13 23 00 Local Courts in regional NSW W: www.humanservices.gov.au W: www.localcourt.justice.nsw. /individuals/subjects/ gov.au/courtlocations what-do-following-death

NSW Health Pathology Translating and Forensic Medicine Service Interpreting Service Newcastle T: 13 14 50 T: (02) 4935 9700 NSW Mental Health Line Sydney (Lidcombe) T: (02) 9563 9000 T: 1800 011 511 (24hrs) Wollongong Lifeline T: (02) 4222 5466 T: 13 11 14 (24hrs) W: www.pathology.health.nsw. Support after Suicide gov.au W: www.supportaftersuicide. NSW Registry of Births org.au Deaths and Marriages T: 13 77 88 E: bdm-webmail@ justice.nsw.gov.au W: www.bdm.nsw.gov.au