A Clinician's Brief Guide to The Coroner's Court and Inquests

Advance decisions to refuse treatment – what (not) to do when it appears one may be in play Re AB (ADRT: Validity and Applicability) [2025] EWCOP 20 (T3) is a (rare) example of a court having to grapple with advance decisions to refuse medical treatment.  It is rare largely because ADRTs …

Advance decisions to refuse treatment – what (not) to do when it appears one may be in play: www.mentalcapacitylawandpolicy.org.uk/advance-deci...

Supporting clinicians through effective CPD - please get in touch if your organisation or trust would benefit #medsky

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Open access #medsky #lawsky
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» When is a coroner functus officio? Post from UK Inquest Law Blog

www.ukinquestlawblog.co.uk/when-is-a-co...

https://c.media-amazon.com/images/I/61F2kvBorJL._SL1500_.jpg Speaking at Medico-legal society, London 8th May, 7pm

8th May, 7pm: Richard Shepherd, Forensic Pathologist speaking online and in person at Medico-legal Society London.
www.medico-legalsociety.org.uk/programme/
#medicine #medsky #lawsky

Ethics and law for anaesthetists Join us for a day of lectures and debates that will address some of the key principles of medical ethics and law.

6th May Ethics and Law for Anaesthetists - online study day #anaesthetics #inquests #RCOA #medsky
rcoa.ac.uk/events/ethic...

Feedback from a reader - A Clinician's Brief Guide to the Coroner's Court and Inquests.

One aim of this book was to help healthcare professionals feel more confident and prepared when facing inquests #inquest
A Clinician's Brief Guide to the Coroner's Court and Inquests.

Anaesthesia On Air. Image of the RCoA logo with headphones around and a sound wave around it.

'Diagnosing Death' is the latest #AnaesthesiaOnAir podcast.

Produced with @FICMNews, Dr Danny Bryden, Dr Dale Gardiner and Dr Ian Thomas discuss diagnosing death for the purposes or organ donation and recent changes to guidance issued by the @AoMRC.

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Artist’s impression of a Wakley inquest

Ah Wakley - my favourite badass coroner of all time

[We deplore the] "state of society which allows various sets of mercenary, goose-brained monopolists and charlatans to usurp the highest privileges.... This is the canker-worm which eats into the heart of the medical body"

— Wakley, The Lancet 1838–39, 1, p 2–3.

Prevention of Future Deaths reports (PFDs) written by coroners in England and Wales between July 2013 and 22 June 2022 that were assigned to categories on the Courts and Tribunals Judiciary website, which increased in 2021, including mental health related (blue), suicide (orange), police related (green) and product related (red) deaths.

Prevention of Future Deaths reports (PFDs) issued between July 2013 and 22 June 2022 including mental health related, suicide, police related and product related deaths.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

Thomas Wakley - first medical coroner. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Wakley

A pugnacious reformer.
"The Council of the College of Surgeons remains an irresponsible, unreformed monstrosity in the midst of English institutions – ... that is most despotic and revolting, iniquitous and insulting, on the face of the Earth". Lancet
@sophiemhistory.bsky.social

» Calling expert evidence is a matter for the Coroner’s discretion Post from UK Inquest Law Blog

An expert having previously expressed strident views on a matter will not necessarily bar them from acting in accordance with their duty of independence to the court. One to watch #gambling

www.ukinquestlawblog.co.uk/calling-expe...

A copy of A Clinician’s Brief Guide to the Coroner’s Court and Inquests

@briefguide.bsky.social thanks for the follow - spooky, as I have this on stand by 🤓
#MedicalExaminers

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» Hard cases can make good law: The High Court’s s.13 powers re-appraised Post from UK Inquest Law Blog

An interesting outcome in a complex matter with a narrative verdict of suicide 'Beth’s parents indicated to the court that they were happy to limit the relief they sought to deletion of those few words and that they were content not to have another inquest.'

www.ukinquestlawblog.co.uk/shipsey/

The sudden and unexpected death of a patient can be emotionally complex and overwhelming for clinicians. This book will equip medical and other healthcare professionals with the necessary information and skills to fulfil their requirements in the coroner's court confidently and competently and understand their organisation's responsibilities. Practical and straightforward, this book aims to make the unfamiliar territory of the coroner's court transparent, enabling clinicians to negotiate all eventualities. It will provide clinicians with the confidence to turn what can feel like an adversarial situation into an opportunity to engage with an important part of the healthcare system, preventing future deaths and providing understanding to relatives. It also explores the underlying necessity of complying with requirements and suggests ways to cope with the emotional impact. With chapters covering expert witnesses, legal perspectives and managing outcomes, this book is essential for any healthcare professional called to an inquest.

How to Survive the Coroner’s Court — A Clinician’s Guide
10 April, 7pm - www.medico-legalsociety.org.uk

A review of mental health related Prevention of Future Deaths report Read our analysis of 40 PFD reports on mental health deaths, highlighting key risks, inquest insights, and strategies for improving patient safety and care.

A review of mental health related Prevention of Future Deaths reports: What can healthcare providers learn?

www.brownejacobson.com/insights/a-r...

www.judiciary.uk/prevention-o...

International Childhood Cancer Day 15 February 2025
Act Early: Detect, Diagnose, and Treat Childhood Cancer
#ChildhoodCancer #WHOFides @who.fides
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Attending an inquest can be daunting. Here are 4 tips for nurses, who are called to give evidence: @cambridgeup.bsky.social

Chief Coroner’s Guidance for Coroners on the Bench. It is intended to be a "live" document with regular review.
www.judiciary.uk/guidance-and...
#inquest #coroner

There are also issues related to the role of the judge:
bsky.app/profile/brie...

It needs a lot more thought and discussion.

Thank you for your contribution @shaunoc.bsky.social

Yes but time and accessibility would be factors. More thought and discussion needed but still at early stage.

Circumstances that affect the decision-making process continued The guidance outlines the legal framework and clinical approach for assessing mental capacity in patients. Part of our decision making and consent guidance.

Practical Considerations:
How can doctors assess if the patient is subject to undue influence or coercion?
Will training and guidance be produced?
Assessing capacity is a core clinical skill (Good Medical Practice) but doctors may still require specialist input to support with this assessment.

ASSISTED DYING : WHAT ROLE FOR THE JUDGE? Some further thoughts This is a guest post from Sir James Munby, the former President of the Family Division of the High Court of England and Wales. It follows on from his previous p

The role of the judge has been questioned by Sir James Mumby.

transparencyproject.org.uk/assisted-dyi...

Two doctors are then required (7 days apart) to assess the patient and state whether the eligibility criteria are met. The patient would then apply to the High Court for approval.