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Post-mortems

Question for Ministry of Justice

UIN 206514, tabled on 17 July 2014

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department has taken to promote minimal invasive autopsies.

Answered on

30 July 2014

The Ministry of Justice has responsibility for coroner law and policy only. It does not have operational responsibility for the coroner service and has therefore neither made an assessment of the effectiveness of coroners’ out of hours services nor taken steps to promote minimal invasive autopsies. I am, however, aware of the requirements of faith communities both for timely funerals and to preserve a body after death and the Chief Coroner has issued guidance to coroners on both out of hours services and on less invasive post mortem examinations. I am working with the Chief Coroner to consider how the service for all those who come into contact with coroners’ services can be improved.

Part I of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 and a suite of rules and regulations came into force in July 2013 with the aim of modernising the coroner system and improving the coroner service for bereaved people and others who come into contact with coroner services. This included the appointment of the first ever Chief Coroner to oversee the new system and drive improvement. The Ministry of Justice is committed to reviewing the impact of these reforms eighteen months after their implementation. Reform of death certification is led by the Department of Health.