Forensic and coronial

Coronial cases

Some deaths must be reported to the coroner and a certificate of cause of death should not be issued. These include if the death is a death under section 24 of the Coroners Act 2009 or if the person died:

• a violent or unnatural death
• a sudden death the cause of which is unknown
• under suspicious or unusual circumstances
• in circumstances where the person had not been attended by a medical practitioner during the period of six months immediately before their death
• in circumstances where death was not the reasonably expected outcome of a health-related procedure carried out in relation to the person
• while in or temporarily absent from a declared mental health facility within the meaning of the Mental Health Act 2007 and while the person was a resident at the facility for the purpose of receiving care, treatment or assistance

For a more detailed explanation, refer to the Coroners Cases and Coroners Act 2009 (PD2024_036).

NSW Health policies and guidelines

• Forensic Drug and Alcohol Sampling in Emergency Departments (PD2021_010)
  Requirements for taking blood samples from patients who have been involved in an accident or those brought to ED by police under arrest.
• Responding to Sexual Assault (adult and child) Policy and Procedures (PD 2020_006)
  Details the functions and governance of NSW Health Sexual Assault Services including relating to crisis response, medical and forensic assessment and management and ongoing interventions and support. Clarifies the roles of other NSW Health services in responding to sexual assault.
• Early Evidence Collection (GL2022_010)
  Guidance for facilitating, storing and documenting early evidence collection. Early evidence collection is the process of supporting a patient who has or may have experienced a recent sexual assault to self-collect early forensic and/or toxicology samples to support the criminal justice system.
• Coroners Cases and Coroners Act 2009 (PD2024_036)
  To provide medical practitioners, health care workers and managers in the public health system with specific information about the Coroners Act 2009; and medical practitioners, nurses and midwives, health care workers and administrators with direction and guidance about reportable deaths to the NSW Coroner.

NSW Perinatal Postmortem Service

The NSW Perinatal Postmortem Service helps families in NSW who have lost a child shortly before or after birth understand the reasons for their loss.

The service manages all non-coronial perinatal postmortem needs throughout NSW, including cases occurring in emergency departments.

It covers perinatal loss from 14 weeks gestation up to 28 days of life.

Referrals can be made online using the link below at any time or by calling the care coordinator Monday to Friday from 8am - 5pm.

The website contains service guides for the correct documentation, consent and transport of babies before a postmortem examination. It also has information for families and carers.

Get in touch with your maternity unit for all the paperwork required for a postmortem referral.

Consent and correct documentation is necessary for any testing following perinatal loss.

Contact information

Contact the perinatal postmortem care coordinator for all perinatal postmortem referrals.

NSW Perinatal Postmortem Service
Referral form - Referrals made outside business hours will be attended to on the next working day.
Phone: 0436 698 366
Email: NSWPATH-PerinatalPostMortemService@health.nsw.gov.au

Resources

• Initial steps after a death is reported to the Coroner
  Brochure for the public developed by NSW Health Pathology's Forensic Medical Service, NSW Coroner's Court and NSW Police.
  Source: NSW Health
• SCIDUA
  The Special Committee Investigating Deaths Under Anaesthesia reviews deaths which occur while under, as a result of, or within 24 hours following the administration of anaesthesia or sedation for procedures of a medical, surgical, dental or investigative nature.
  Source: Clinical Excellence Commission
• National Coronial Information System
  Secure database of information on deaths reported to a coroner in Australia and New Zealand.
• Public Health Act 2010
  NSW Government Act to promote, protect and improve public health, including risk control and infectious diseaase management.
  Source: NSW Government
• Violence, abuse and neglect clinical tool
  Indications and interventions for suspected child or elder abuse, domestic violence and sexual assault.