NCJ Number
57550
Journal
FORENSIC SCIENCE Volume: 10 Issue: 1 Dated: SPECIAL ISSUE (JULY/AUGUST 1977) Pages: 13-18
Editor(s)
J VOIGT
Date Published
1977
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THE FOCAL POINT OF THE MEDICOLEGAL SYSTEM IN ENGLAND AND WALES IS A CORONER, WHO IS USUALLY A LAWYER IN PRIVATE PRACTICE. LOCAL PHYSICIANS HANDLE AUTOPSIES.
Abstract
SOME LARGE CITIES HAVE FULL-TIME CORONERS WITH MEDICAL AND LEGAL QUALIFICATIONS. THE CORONER CONDUCTS A PUBLIC INVESTIGATION OF ALL DEATHS WHICH CANNOT BE CERTIFIED BY A PHYSICIAN, WHICH MEANS 180,000 INVESTIGATIONS ANNUALLY, OR 40 PERCENT OF ALL DEATHS IN ENGLAND AND WALES. WHEN NOTIFIED OF A DEATH, THE CORONER CAN EITHER DISPOSE OF IT WITHOUT POSTMORTEM EXAMINATION OR ORDER AN AUTOPSY. IN LONDON AND SOME LARGE CITIES 95 TO 99 PERCENT OF ALL UNCERTIFIED DEATHS HAVE A FULL AUTOPSY, WHILE IN RURAL AREAS THE FIGURE IS ABOUT 40 PERCENT. THE MAJORITY OF THESE ARE NATURAL DEATHS, WITH CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE THE MOST COMMON CAUSE. THEORETICALLY, ALL SUSPICIOUS OR OBVIOUSLY CRIMINAL DEATHS ARE DEALT WITH BY A FULL-TIME FORENSIC PATHOLOGIST. HOWEVER, THERE ARE NO TRUE INSTITUTES OF LEGAL MEDICINE IN ENGLAND AND WALES AND MANY SCHOOLS OF MEDICINE TEACH FORENSIC PATHOLOGY WITH ONLY ONE OR TWO PART-TIME STAFF MEMBERS. AS A RESULT, LARGE AREAS OF THE COUNTRY HAVE NO FORENSIC PATHOLOGIST AVAILABLE. HOME OFFICE SPECIALISTS ARE AVAILABLE TO LOCAL CORONERS, BUT OFTEN LOCAL INVESTIGATORS JUST ASK THE HOSPITAL PATHOLOGIST TO HANDLE THE AUTOPSY IN CRIMINAL CASES. CLINICAL FORESIC MEDICINE (GENERALLY EXAMINATION OF DRUNKEN DRIVERS, VICTIMS OF SEXUAL OFFENSES, AND SOME CRIME SCENE WORK) IS THE PROVINCE OF THE POLICE SURGEON, A GENERAL PHYSICIAN PAID BY THE POLICE TO HANDLE MEDICOLEGAL TASKS. THE GENERAL STATE OF LEGAL MEDICINE IS UNEVEN AND COMMISSIONS HAVE RECOMMENDED GOVERNMENT FUNDING TO RAISE THE LEVEL OF TRAINING AND COVERAGE. (GLR)