Practicalities

Tissue retention

circleinteractive — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 13:22:39 +0000

Tissue retention circleinteractive Tue, 07/05/2016 - 13:22

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The Pathologist may need to take samples from your loved one's body for further testing. Unfortunately, this must be done even if you would prefer otherwise - the Pathologist has a duty in law to take them if they believe that it will help them determine the cause of death.

Caring for children

circleinteractive — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 16:54:27 +0000

Caring for children circleinteractive Sun, 06/05/2016 - 16:54

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When a person dies, if they have children it is common for family members to assume care of the children either temporarily or on a long term basis. If you take on the care of a child, you are likely to need financial and other support to help you care for them. There are various sources of support, including specialist agencies, the local council and benefits/tax credits.

Funeral arrangements

circleinteractive — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 16:49:05 +0000

Funeral arrangements circleinteractive Thu, 03/10/2016 - 16:49

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No one wants to arrange a funeral at what is already a difficult time, but understanding what is involved and how to deal with problems will help. The person may have left instructions about the type of funeral and burial they wanted. There is no legal obligation for these instructions to be followed, but they usually are.

More devastating than I could ever have imagined

circleinteractive — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 15:43:33 +0000

More devastating than I could ever have imagined

circleinteractive Thu, 03/10/2016 - 15:43

Practicalities

Our son, Matthew, died in April 2001 from a heroin overdose. He was thirty years old. He was the middle one of three boys and he had begun experimenting with drugs and alcohol probably in his early teens. His behaviour changed drastically then, but it can be hard to know the difference between "normal" teenage behaviour and drug use. And he was the last child one would imagine to try drugs – he loved sport, had lots of friends, detested people smoking and knew about the dangers.

When a sudden or unexpected death occurs

circleinteractive — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 15:24:40 +0000

When a sudden or unexpected death occurs circleinteractive Thu, 03/10/2016 - 15:24

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When a sudden or unexpected death occurs then the police will attend. You should not be alarmed by this.

They have two roles.

Firstly they have to investigate to see if there have been any criminal offences committed. In the case of any drug-related deaths that will involve trying to find who supplied the drugs.

When the police are involved

circleinteractive — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 15:02:26 +0000

When the police are involved circleinteractive Thu, 03/10/2016 - 15:02

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When someone dies suddenly or unexpectedly the police may be called. The police take statements, and arrange for someone to identify the person who has died.

Inquest: Complaints and disputes

circleinteractive — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 14:58:23 +0000

Inquest: Complaints and disputes circleinteractive Thu, 03/10/2016 - 14:58

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If you think the inquest has reached the wrong conclusion you can dispute the outcome, but you will need legal advice.

This must be done within three months of the end of the investigation. If you wish to complain about the standard of service, there is a complaints procedure to follow.

More information is given in the government’s Guide to Coroner Services

Copies of reports

circleinteractive — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 14:55:52 +0000

Copies of reports circleinteractive Thu, 03/10/2016 - 14:55

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You may ask to receive copies of reports of any post-mortem examination, and of other documents that are relevant to the investigation. The Coroner’s office will not charge a fee for copies of documents provided before or during the inquest, but may charge you if you wait to ask until after the inquest is over.

You may also request a recording of the inquest hearing, for which there will be a charge.

Inquests step by step

circleinteractive — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 14:32:43 +0000

Inquests step by step circleinteractive Thu, 03/10/2016 - 14:32

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A sudden or unexpected death will be reported to the Coroner by the police, a doctor or the registrar of births and deaths.

Investigating sudden deaths

circleinteractive — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 14:29:11 +0000

Investigating sudden deaths circleinteractive Thu, 03/10/2016 - 14:29

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When someone dies suddenly and unexpectedly the law says there must be an investigation into what happened. This is likely to happen if drugs are involved in your friend or relative’s death. It may not be the case for an alcohol-related death following a long illness. The investigation may involve a post-mortem (doctor’s examination of the body) and an inquest (public court hearing to find out who died, how and why). There is likely to be a delay before you can hold the funeral.