Does there need to be an inquest?

The Deputy Viscount considers the Police and post-mortem examination reports. He may direct that further enquiries be carried out. Sometimes further enquiries are instigated automatically by the nature of the death, for example when the Health and Safety Inspectorate has to become involved. If there are no circumstances requiring further investigation and the death was found by the pathologist to have been from natural causes, the Deputy Viscount will most probably decide not to hold an inquest: he immediately issues release documentation to the mortuary at the General Hospital, which makes necessary arrangements with the funeral directors appointed by the deceased’s next of kin.

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