Sydney
When do I need a coroner?
A coroner examines the body for the cause of the death. This is called a post-mortem examination. You only need a coroner in these situations:
- If the doctor is unable to state the cause of death because he or she did not attend to the deceased in the previous three months
- If someone dies in hospital unexpectedly
- If the doctor or police suspect that the person committed suicide or took a drug overdose
- If the doctor or police suspect that the person was murdered
- If the person dies in a fire, an accident at home or a road accident or any other accident
- If the person dies at work
- If the person dies in a government institution, such as a prison
- If the person dies in a public place
- SIDS (Cot Death) and any other unexpected death that cannot be explained without a post-mortem examination.