Guide to reportable deaths

This page is for guidance only. It is not exhaustive and if you're in any doubt, you should contact the Coroners Office for further advice.

If you've got a cause for concern regarding a death then you are entitled to raise these concerns by contacting the Coroners Office.

When a death should be referred to the coroner

The following regulations on when a death should be referred to the coroner came into effect on Tuesday, 1 October 2019.

A death should be referred to HM Coroner if:

  • The death is suspected to be due to:
    • Poisoning, including by a substance that is usually not poisonous.
    • Exposure to or contact with a toxic substance.
    • The use of a medicinal product, controlled drug or psychoactive substance.
    • Violence, trauma, injury or self-harm.
    • Neglect, including self-neglect.
    • A treatment or procedure the deceased person has undergone.
    • A workplace injury or disease related to any employment the person had during their lifetime.
  • The death is suspected to be due to unnatural causes but it doesn't fall into one of the circumstances listed above.
  • The cause of death is unknown.
  • The person died while in police custody or state detention.
  • There's no attending medical practitioner available to sign the cause of death certificate.
  • The attending medical practitioner isn't available within a reasonable time of the person's death to sign the cause of death certificate.
  • The attending medical practitioner is unable to determine the identity of the deceased person.

Detailed legislation and guidance on reportable deaths

You can read the following documents for more information about reporting deaths to the coroner.