Deaths Reportable to Coroner
A: Deaths reportable pursuant to Rules of law include:
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sudden, unexpected or unexplained death
where the deceased was not seen and treated by a registered medical practitioner
within one month prior to death
where a medical practitioner is not satisfied in relation to the cause of death
sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI)
death directly or indirectly due to unnatural causes (regardless of the time between the
event or injury leading to death or any co-morbidities):
o road traffic collision;
o incident in home, workplace or elsewhere;
o any physical injury;
o falls and/or fractures;
o drugs overdose or toxicity (drugs of abuse);
o infections contracted as a result of previous drug abuse (including HIV and
Hepatitis C);
o adverse drug reaction (medication);
o neglect (including self-neglect);
o starvation (including anorexia nervosa);
o exposure and hypothermia;
o burns or carbon monoxide poisoning;
o poisoning from any cause (including acute alcohol poisoning and food
poisoning);
o drowning, hanging, stabbing, firearms injuries;
o septicaemia resulting from injury or drug abuse.
death directly or indirectly related to any surgical or medical procedure or treatment
(including post-operative complications regardless of the length of time between
procedure and death)
death occurring during (or soon after) a surgical operation or anaesthesia
where there is any allegation of medical negligence, misconduct or malpractice
where death may be homicide or occurred in suspicious circumstances
death connected with crime or suspected crime
death of a person in prison or legal custody (including Garda Stations)
death resulting from an industrial or occupational injury or disease
death of a patient in a psychiatric hospital or facility
where a person is found dead
where a body is unidentified
where human remains are found
where a body is to be removed out of Ireland
B: Deaths reportable pursuant to Rules of practice include:
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person brought in dead (BID; DOA dead on arrival) at the emergency department of a
hospital
death occurring in the Emergency department
death within 24 hours of admission to hospital
death within 24 hours of operation or any medical or surgical procedure
death occurring suddenly in hospital department (OPD, Radiology, Physiotherapy,
ECG, EEG etc.)
death in hospital of a person referred from a nursing home
all nursing home deaths
death of a child in care
death which may have resulted from any non-conventional (alternative/herbal)
medicine or procedure
chronic alcohol dependence
prion disease
certain healthcare acquired infections invasive MRSA, VRE, C.diff and outbreaks of
infections in wards or special units such as cardiac surgery, burns units, ICU, neonatal
units
where there is any doubt as to the cause of death or where a satisfactory medical
certificate of the cause of death cannot be obtained from a medical registered
practitioner
where there are any concerns in relation to a death or difficulty in certification
where a body is to be repatriated to the State
NB. The above lists are not exhaustive. Where a medical practitioner is unsure as to whether
or not a death is a reportable death a call should be made to the coroner’s office to discuss the
case.
Maternity Hospitals – Reportable Deaths(1)
I
All maternal deaths(2)
II
Infant death occurring as either
stillbirth/intrapartum/neonatal/post neonatal death where any of the following arise:
(i)
questions of criminal offence:
- concealment of birth(3)
- want of attention at birth/possible infanticide
- destruction of unborn human life (outwith PLDP Act 2013)
(ii)
certain stillbirths(4)
(iii)
trauma (accidental/non-accidental)
(iv)
hypoxic encephalopathy
(v)
allegation of malpractice (which may have contributed to the cause of death) or
any concerns relating to death
(vi)
certain deaths in hospital:
- post diagnostic/therapeutic/instrumental procedure (where the procedure may
be a factor in the causation of death.)
- adverse drug reaction
- certain healthcare acquired infections(5)
(vii)
maternal drug addiction (that may have contributed to death)
(viii) unnatural death (antepartum, intrapartum, neonatal, post neonatal)
(ix)
domiciliary delivery
III
Death of a gynaecological patient
Reported in accordance with existing rules.
(1)
Such deaths are reportable for discussion in the first instance. The fact that a death is reported to the
coroner does not mean that an autopsy will always be directed.
(2)
To include direct and indirect deaths and late maternal deaths per ICD 9/10
(3)
Secret disposition (disposal or attempted disposal) of the body of a newborn infant.
(4)
Section 28(7) Civil Registration Act 2004 The term Stillbirth refers to the potentially viable foetus, i.e. 24
weeks gestation and/or birth weight 500 grams or more. Cases of lesser gestation may also fall within the
above described categories and give cause for concern. Advice of the coroner should be sought in such
cases.
(5)
Healthcare acquired infections are not routinely reportable. Where death is due to invasive MRSA
septicaemia, pneumonia, endocarditis, meningitis (not MRSA colonisation) the case should be discussed
with the coroner. Due cognisance will be given to the clinical circumstances including co-morbidities and
other factors when assessing such deaths. Similar considerations apply to VRE (vancomycin resistant
enterococcus). Deaths resulting from outbreaks of infection due to gram negative Bacilli (e.g. ICU) or
coagulase-negative staphylococci (e.g. neonatal units) should be reported for discussion.