Coroners reports deemed unacceptable by enquiry into post-mortems

A quarter of postmortem investigations ordered by coroners, are poor or unacceptable according to a new report. The National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death found the cause of death registered by pathologists was found to be "questionable" in about a fifth of all case. John Hirst, whose son James died suddenly at the age of 21 from an epileptic seizure, had to challenge the system to have the correct cause of death recorded. Bereavement groups want the Government to reinstate plans to have national standards in investigating and reporting sudden unexplained deaths.

ITN Source | October 19, 2006

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