CORONER AND THE POLICE SURGEON

• NCJ Number: 60439
• Journal: Police Surgeon Issue: 13 Dated: (APRIL 1978) Pages: 9-17
• Author(s): A MENDOZA
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 9 pages
• Corporate Author: Police College
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom
• Note: PAPER PRESENTED AT THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE ASSOCIATION OF POLICE SURGEONS OF GREAT BRITAIN, HELD AT CAMBRIDGE (UK) MAY 1976

Annotation

POLICE SURGEONS ARE WARNED TO BE NATURALLY SUSPICIOUS WHEN CONFRONTED WITH AN UNEXPLAINED DEATH AND TO ERR ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION WHEN ASKED TO CERTIFY WHETHER AN ARRESTED PERSON IS WELL ENOUGH TO REMAIN IN JAIL.

Abstract

DOCTORS OFTEN MAKE INITIAL ERRORS IN JUDGMENT WHEN CONFRONTED WITH A DEATH. AN AMERICAN STUDY FOUND THAT IN A SERIES OF 500 CORONERS' CASES SUBJECT TO AUTOPSY THE ATTENDING DOCTOR'S DIAGNOSIS WAS WRONG IN 45 PERCENT. IN ANOTHER SURVEY OF 400 CASES, 3.5 PERCENT OF THE CASES THOUGHT TO BE NATURAL DEATHS WERE DUE TO UNSUSPECTED VIOLENCE WHILE 30 PERCENT OF THOSE THOUGHT DUE TO VIOLENCE WERE FOUND TO BE DUE TO NATURAL DISEASES. TWO CASE HISTORIES ILLUSTRATE HOW EASY IT IS TO MISTAKE DRUG-RELATED DEATHS AS DEATHS DUE TO OTHER CAUSES. ALONG THE SAME LINE, PERSONS PICKED UP ON THE STREET AND THOUGHT TO BE INTOXICATED MAY BE SUFFERING FROM DISEASE, HEAD INJURIES, OR DRUG-RELATED SYMPTONS--ALL OF WHICH REQUIRE HOSPITALIZATION. IT IS TO THE CREDIT OF GREAT BRITAINS JAIL ATTENDANTS THAT ONLY TWO SUCH DEATHS HAVE OCCURRED IN THE JAIL RATHER THAN THE HOSPITAL. POLICE ORDERS IN GREAT BRITAIN GIVE JAIL ATTENDANTS THE AUTHORITY TO EITHER CALL THE POLICE SURGEON OR TO HAVE A PRISONER TRANSFERRED TO THE HOSPITAL WHENEVER CONDITIONS SEEM TO WARRANT IT. POLICE SURGEONS ARE WARNED TO ERR ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION AND TRANSFER SEEMINGLY DRUNK PERSONS TO THE HOSPITAL. IN FACT, STANDARD PROCEDURE SHOULD REQUIRE ALL UNCONSCIOUS PERSONS TO BE TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL RATHER THAN TO A JAIL. (GLR)