Recommendation 51: Advice to next of kin on examination

If a decision is made to authorise a post mortem examination Coroners shall ensure that the next of kin are advised of: – the reasons for authorising the post mortem examination; – their right to ask the Coroner that the examination be carried out by a pathologist independent of the hospital in which the deceased died; – the place and time of the examination and the identity of the pathologist; – the nature of the examination, including the need to open the body and to remove and weigh organs; – the need for samples and possible retention of organs; – their option to delay the funeral, while the pathologist fixes and examines any organs, to enable the return of the organs to the body for burial or cremation; – their option for a funeral without the return of the organs, in which case they shall be invited to consent to respectful disposal by the Coroner; – their option to make their own arrangements for respectful disposal of the organs.