Publish date: 8 August 2024
HM Coroner has a role to investigate deaths which are unnatural or violent; sudden deaths or deaths in state detention, all other deaths may be certified by a medical practitioner.
Following the post-Shipman reforms, from 9 September 2024 all deaths not referred to HM Coroner will be reviewed independently by a Medical Examiner. From that date, medical practitioners will also be allowed to certificate a death if they have attended the deceased in their lifetime (not just within the 28 days prior to death as currently).
Further guidance will be issued on a Divisional basis to explain these changes shortly.