A post-mortem examination (also called an autopsy) is a medical examination of a dead body to determine the exact cause of death. It is carried out by a pathologist (a doctor who specialises in the nature and causes of disease).
When is a post-mortem necessary?
A post-mortem may be requested by either a coroner or a doctor. A coroner (an independent judicial office holder who investigates unexpected deaths) will ask for a post-mortem in the case of a violent, sudden or unnatural death or as part of a criminal investigation, and may use its findings at an inquest. A doctor may ask for a post-mortem to find out more about an illness or for medical research.
If a coroner has ordered the post-mortem, they do not need to ask permission from the family or next of kin, because they have a legal duty to investigate certain types of death.
If a coroner has ordered the post-mortem, they do not need to ask permission from the family or next of kin, because they have a legal duty to investigate certain types of death.
Will the post-mortem delay the funeral?
Not usually. A post-mortem normally takes place within a few days of death. Following the examination, release papers will be issued and you can make arrangements for the funeral. However, in some cases you may have to wait several weeks to see the results of the post- mortem.
You must wait to register the death until the coroner’s office has received the results of the post-mortem. Once the results are available, you can get a death certificate and register the death with a registrar of births, marriages and deaths.
While waiting for the post-mortem report, the coroner may give you an Interim Certificate of the Fact of Death. You may be able to use this instead of a standard death certificate as acceptable evidence for banks, insurance companies and other institutions, but you should check with each institution that it meets their requirements.
You must wait to register the death until the coroner’s office has received the results of the post-mortem. Once the results are available, you can get a death certificate and register the death with a registrar of births, marriages and deaths.
While waiting for the post-mortem report, the coroner may give you an Interim Certificate of the Fact of Death. You may be able to use this instead of a standard death certificate as acceptable evidence for banks, insurance companies and other institutions, but you should check with each institution that it meets their requirements.