Could some one please tell me about post mortems, inquests, coroners reports and so on. I don't understand what happens when someone dies suddenly after having been discharged from hospital.
In some cases such as sudden or unexpected death it may be necessary for a doctor to refer the death to the coroner who may order a post-mortem examination. This is an examination of the body after death to determine cause of death or other important information.
Following the post-mortem, the Coroner may issue the death certificate or may decide that an inquest is needed to determine cause of death.
A relative of mine was discharged from hospital. Two days later, she was re admitted and died the following day. I am at a distance from the family but was told today that she died from natural causes. Would this be following a post mortem, inquest, coroners report? The details are sketchy but I don't understand how natural causes can be the reason for her death.
Sorry to be indefinite. I don't know the full story. I just wondered what happens in the way of an 'inquiry'
natural causes is a death that is not unexpected. It is not from an accident, a natural disaster, a homicide or suicide. It is also one that is not preventable.
When the heart suddenly stops beating, I think they say 'natural causes'. Once a post mortem is done this normally determines the actual cause which will go on the Death Certificate.
According to the Death Certificate my father died from The Frailty of Old Age. The night of the day I had been told he was fit enough to be discharged. To a one bedroomed flat where he lived alone, no home help, no support but me. I was trying to work full time.
Naomi, it is all a bit vague. Trying to get information from aged aunts is an impossibility. No one seems to know what's going on. Each aunt has a different version.
I was trying to find out what the procedure was when someone dies in hospital, having been discharged and re-admitted before their death.
Tilly, I don't think the fact that she was discharged and re-admitted is relevant. If she died in hospital the cause of death will have been recorded by her doctors and will be on her death certificate.
The cause of death if known will be put on the death certificate and illnesses are natural causes. I put on earlier post the things that are unnatural causes. My mother died of natural causes and because they could not determine which of several things it was it was not attributed to anything specific.