Reform coroners plea

The coroners' system must undergo substantial reform and become more transparent and accountable, it was claimed last week.

A consultation paper issued by the coroners' review group included proposals for a new court structure to deal with coroners' judicial inquests, with higher courts available to deal with appeals against coroners' decisions and handle particularly complex cases.

Bereaved families would have clearer rights, including access to documents produced during the inquest, the right to request a post-mortem, and to question whether there should be an inquest at all.

Around three-quarters of coroners are lawyers; the rest are doctors.

The current practice of giving verdicts in an inquest is also under discussion, with the paper suggesting the introduction of a 'fuller and more considered examination of any systems failures that may have contributed to the death'.

The group also questioned the current practice of having a public inquest in all cases where people take their own lives.

Coroners' review group chairman Tom Luce stressed the need for change.

'Neither the current death certification or investigation systems are fit for modern society, and both need substantial reform,' he said.

Recent high-profile inquests into the Harold Shipman murders and the Alder Hey hospital organ retention have focused attention on the coroners' courts.

Helen Shaw, a director of charity Inquest, said: 'Coroners are a marginalised group with no proper regulation, and the system needs to be brought into line with reforms made in other judicial areas.'

LINKS: www.coronersreview.org.uk

Victoria MacCallum