The Notification of Deaths Regulations 2019

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations impose a duty on registered medical practitioners to notify a senior coroner of a person’s death under certain circumstances. The senior coroner to be notified is the senior coroner appointed for the area in which the body of the deceased person lies (the “relevant senior coroner”).

Regulation 2 provides that the duty applies where the registered medical practitioner comes to know of the death on or after the coming into force of these Regulations and at least one of the circumstances set out in regulation 3 applies in relation to the death.

But the duty does not apply if the registered medical practitioner reasonably believes that the relevant senior coroner has already been notified of the death under these Regulations.

Regulation 3 describes the circumstances referred to in regulation 2.

Regulation 4 sets out the requirements which apply when notifying the relevant senior coroner. This regulation provides when the coroner must be notified, how the coroner may be notified and what information must be given to the relevant senior coroner.

An impact assessment has not been produced for these Regulations as no impact, or no significant impact, on the private or voluntary sectors is foreseen.