What happens next?

When immediate enquiries have been completed, the body is taken by ambulance to the mortuary at the General Hospital. Police investigate the death, speaking to the relatives, relevant doctors and any witnesses, then make a written report to the Deputy Viscount. If there are no suspicious circumstances and no indication that the death occurred as a result of accident or negligence on the part of others, the Police report is usually compiled and sent by fax within 24 hours. Relatives are offered a copy of the booklet “Post-mortem Guide for Relatives” by the Police. That booklet sets out in detail what a post-mortem examination is and provides forms for relatives to express their wishes concerning the retention and disposal of tissue samples and organs should that be necessary.

If the Deputy Viscount decides that a post-mortem examination of the body may either assist the conduct of an inquest or render an inquest unnecessary, he issues a request to an appropriate Consultant Pathologist to carry out such an examination. Most post-mortem examinations are carried out by the Consultant Pathologists employed at the General Hospital. However, if the death is such as to require specialist forensic skills, a “Home Office Pathologist” will be brought in from England. Post-mortem examinations are usually carried out on the next working day (sometimes a little later when an off-Island pathologist is engaged). The pathologist makes an oral report to the Deputy Viscount and follows this up in due course with a full written report: a copy of the written report is automatically sent to the deceased’s General Practitioner and the deceased’s family are supplied with one direct, upon application to the Viscount’s Department (tel. 502402). The deceased’s family does not have to pay for the post-mortem examination and report.

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