WHO is the Coroner?
To Call or Not to Call
Coroner's Rules
To the Morgue!
What would you do?
100
The theme song the coroner plays while at work www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WseRJMQf1U
What is "Who are You" by the Who
100
These are the 3 major grounds for reporting a death to the Coroner.
What is 1) non-natural cause of death 2)Specific Circumstances 3)natural death with significant issues A death must be reported immediately if it occurred during the course of a disease outbreak in any setting (i.e. SARS)
100
All staff must cooperate with this person and follow his/her strict instructions
What is The Coroner
100
When the body can be moved to the morgue
What is only following consent of the Coroner
100
Mary White...
Yes. The fact that a 45 y/o woman has died of apparent menorrhagia, despite ongoing medical treatment, raises reasonable concerns about care. The coroner will complete the death certificate.
200
These are the roles of the Coroner
What is 1- to determine the facts surrounding a death 2- to make recommendations to prevent future deaths in similar circumstances
200
This is the underlying cause of death in a man who falls on the street, sustains a hip fracture, undergoes surgery, and dies 5 days later of pneumonia.
What is accidental fall. fall> hip fracture > surgery >pneumonia Because it was an accidental death (not natural), it must be reported to the Coroner. Failing to link a preceding injury with the death is a common mistake.
200
Things you are not allowed to do once the patient is pronounced dead
What is - do not move or touch the body - do not clean up the body - do not remove lines, tubes, drains ..... without the coroner's permission
200
Where I can find Coroner contact information
What is In the policy-- Reporting deaths to the coroner (099-MED)
200
Mrs. Brown...
No, the death was due to natural causes and no issues identified. The attending MD will complete the medical certificate of death. This is a change from past practices where the 10th case from a long term care facility had to be reported-- there are no longer threshold cases.
300
Those who have the legal responsibility to notify the coroner of the facts and circumstances relating to a death.
What is everyone-- everyone has the legal responsibility to immediately notify the coroner of the facts and circumstances relating to a death
300
The law requires deaths under these circumstances be reported to the coroner (these are 'Specific Circumstances')
What is : - if the deceased was a prisoner in custody or attempting to escape custody - a psychiatric patient - pregnancy related maternal death - workplace death - certain neonatal and stillbirths - crib death - potential organ donor, currently alive, but death anticipated and who would be a coroner's case at the time of death (no harvesting of organs without Coroner's consent)
300
Where you will be after the patient dies in a coroner's case
What is OUT of the room! Leave the room. Do not alter or remove anything from the room including the garbage. Leave the room as it was. Close the door and do not allow anyone to enter the room (no family).
300
2 nurses will do this when preparing the body after death
What is validate the deceased patient's ID-- ID bracelet matches toe tag and shroud tag
300
Mrs. Brown continued...
There is now an allegation about care. The case is now a natural death with issues. The coroner should now be notified of the death.
400
The person with the primary responsibility to notify the coroner
What is the MRP or delegate The coroner, based on the facts presented, will decide whether or not to take possession of the body and conduct an investigation.
400
While not required under legislation, it is established best practice to notify the coroner when these types of deaths occur.
What is - perioperative- death during a procedure or before leaving the PACU, unless death was known to be the most likely outcome prior to the procedure (i.e. attempted repair of ruptured AAA) - Pediatric deaths (must be reported if CAS/CCAS or other criteria is already met) - Workplace deaths - Deaths of females while alone with intimate male partner
400
Where the Coroner will request the chart to be.
What is either accompanying the body or remaining on the unit-- follow the coroner's order.
400
Before transferring the deceased patient off the unit, a Nurse and Porter do this
What is validate ID against toe tag and shroud tag.
400
A 1 1/2 year old brought to ER
Yes, while not strictly required, it would be recommended that the coroner be notified. Even though it appears that everything appropriate was done, it is best practice to call the coroner in any pediatric deaths, especially infants. It is not uncommon for investigation of an apparently natural peds death to identify issues of care or even foul play. The coroner should complete the death certificate.
500
The Medical Certificate of Death is completed by the Coroner in these cases
What is in Coroner's cases. In non-coroner's cases the attending physician completes the medical certificate of death. A medical certificate of death is completed in all deaths and it is used world-wide.
500
An example of 1 common myth/misconception. The coroner does not need to be called in these situations (unless other criteria are met)
What is - death at home - death in ER - death within 24hrs of admission - death following transfer from another facility, including nursing homes-- you do need to notify the institution the patient was transferred from though - 'threshold' deaths at nursing homes
500
A consent for autopsy is not required in this situation
What is: When a coroner orders an autopsy, family consent is not required. If the coroner decides not to accept the case for further investigation, the MRP/delegate can request a hospital autopsy if indicated, with the family's consent
500
By law, the funeral home must have a copy of this before they can proceed with disposition of the body
What is Medical certificate of death. This should be completed at the earliest opportunity. If it is not completed at the time of death, the form should be done within hours, and never more than 24 hours after death. A delay may lead to unnecessary family grief. FYI-- there are death packages available to ER staff that have this paperwork in it.
500
Agnes Jones
Yes, while her immediate cause of death is pneumonia, there is no reason to believe that her death may be attributable to the injury 6 weeks ago. The death may fall under the category of a non-natural death. The coroner will complete the death certificate.
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