Coroners and Justice Act 2009

14 Post-mortem examinations E+W

(1) A senior coroner may request a suitable practitioner to make a post-mortem examination of a body if—

(a) the coroner is responsible for conducting an investigation under this Part into the death of the person in question, or

(b) a post-mortem examination is necessary to enable the coroner to decide whether the death is one into which the coroner has a duty under section 1(1) to conduct an investigation.

(2) A request under subsection (1) may specify the kind of examination to be made.

(3) For the purposes of subsection (1) a person is a suitable practitioner if he or she—

(a) is a registered medical practitioner, or

(b) in a case where a particular kind of examination is requested, a practitioner of a description designated by the Chief Coroner as suitable to make examinations of that kind.

(4) Where a person informs the senior coroner that, in the informant's opinion, death was caused wholly or partly by the improper or negligent treatment of a registered medical practitioner or other person, that practitioner or other person—

(a) must not make, or assist at, an examination under this section of the body, but

(b) is entitled to be represented at such an examination.

This subsection has no effect as regards a post-mortem examination already made.

(5) A person who makes a post-mortem examination under this section must as soon as practicable report the result of the examination to the senior coroner in whatever form the coroner requires.

Commencement Information

I1 S. 14 in force at 25.7.2013 by S.I. 2013/1869, art. 2(a)