What does the Coroner do?

Coronial Counselling Service Level 13, May Holman Centre, 32 St Georges Terrace PERTH WA 6000 Telephone: (08) 9425 2900 or 1800 671 994 Facsimile: (08) 9425 2901 Mobile: 041 990 4476

Coronial Inquiries 52 Kings Park Road WEST PERTH WA 6004 Telephone: (08) 9420 5200 (24 hours) Facsimile: (08) 9324 1355

Coroner's Court Level 13, May Holman Centre, 32 St Georges Terrace PERTH WA 6000 Telephone: (08) 9425 2900 or 1800 671 994 Facsimile: (08) 9425 2901

coroners court

What is a Post Mortem Examination?

A post mortem is a step by step external and internal examination of the body by a doctor. Some tissues and organs require very specialised examination which varies depending on the circumstances of the death. The retention of organs is strictly limited to cases in which further analysis is necessary to help determine or confirm the medical cause of death. Some organs may need to be retained for several weeks. Information on organ retention and other details of the post mortem examination are strictly confidential and only available to the immediate family of the deceased.

To establish the medical cause of death it is usually necessary to conduct a post mortem examination. This is the only certain method of determining and recording the cause of death. The senior next of kin may request that a doctor of choice be present at the examination.
After the internal examination of the body is complete, care is taken so that the body is returned as far as possible to its original condition.

In most cases the body is released for burial or cremation immediately after the examination, In some cases it may be necessary for whole organs to be retained for a period of time and this may need to be taken into account when deciding on the funeral date.

Except where the Coroner decides that a post mortem examination must be held immediately, the senior next of kin may object to the holding of a post mortem examination.

As there are good reasons for holding post mortem examinations as soon as possible, any objection should be lodged by the next of kin within 24 hours of receiving the brochure handed by the police.

To make an objection, telephone the Office of State Coroner on 1800 671 994 during office hours or the Police Service's Coronial Inquiry Section after hours on 08 92221624

If the Coroner still decides that a post mortem should still be held, the Coroner must give notice in writing to the Senior next of kin and to the State Coroner stating his reasons. On receipt of the Coroner's written decision the senior next of kin may, within two days apply to the Supreme Court for an order that no post mortem examination be performed.

Senior next of kin means....

Any person can ask a Coroner to direct that a post mortem be performed. Tissue may only be removed from the body for therapeutic, medical, teaching or scientific purposes with the - :Written permission of the deceased; or Written informed consent of the senior next of kin. Where there has been written permission by the deceased, the senior next of kin has the right to view that written permission.
When a Person dies suddenly brochure

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