Medical Examiner Service

The Care After Death Team will then gather the notes and information together for the Medical Examiner Service (who are independent doctors not involved in a persons’ care) to review. It is normal practice to have each death which occurred in a hospital reviewed by an independent doctor. The circumstances of death will then be discussed between the Medical Examiner and a doctor involved in the care of your relative at the hospital.
In some cases, the Medical Examiner and Doctor will not be able to discern or agree the cause of death. When this happens a referral to the Coroner will be made. The Care After Death Team will let you know if this happens and what to do next.