A Clinician's Brief Guide to the Coroner's Court and Inquests

A straightforward and practical guide to equip healthcare professionals with the knowledge and skills to prepare for and navigate inquests.

This is a practical guide for medical and other healthcare professionals who have been called to an inquest or are supporting colleagues at an inquest. It explains the processes and advises how to prepare, give evidence, and aid the coroner and the families of the deceased determine what happened.The sudden and unexpected death of a patient can be emotionally complex and overwhelming for clinicians. This book will equip medical and other healthcare professionals with the necessary information and skills to fulfil their requirements in the coroner's court confidently and competently and understand their organisation's responsibilities. Practical and straightforward, this book aims to make the unfamiliar territory of the coroner's court transparent, enabling clinicians to negotiate all eventualities. It will provide clinicians with the confidence to turn what can feel like an adversarial situation into an opportunity to engage with an important part of the healthcare system, preventing future deaths and providing understanding to relatives. It also explores the underlying necessity of complying with requirements and suggests ways to cope with the emotional impact. With chapters covering expert witnesses, legal perspectives and managing outcomes, this book is essential for any healthcare professional called to an inquest.