Mesothelioma Inquests in England and Wales Information for clinicians to share with people affected
by mesothelioma
When a person who has been diagnosed with asbestos related disease dies, it is considered an unnatural death by law and an inquest is required. One of the purposes of the inquest is to determine whether the death was attributable to an “industrial disease” (such as asbestosis) or to some other cause.
On occasion, dealing with the coroner and/or the police shortly after bereavement can be very difficult for families and those left behind.
It is acknowledged that at the time of the diagnosis, patients and their carers may not wish to discuss the procedures relating to the inquest.
However, provision of this information at some stage prior to death may be of considerable benefit to people affected by mesothelioma in order that the coroner’s procedures dos not come as a shock. Therefore, where possible, there should be the opportunity to discuss these procedures with people affected by mesothelioma. It is important to remember that you should seek permission from the patient to discuss details with all third parties including next of kin.
In some cases it may be the patient’s preference for this information to be discussed by a relative who maybe more able to understand the details at what is a very distressing time.
As part of the Multi-Disciplinary Team meeting, information about the patient’s work history should be reviewed and, if incomplete, a note made to record a comprehensive work historyby completing a pro forma.
This should include any occupations during life that may havecaused or contributed to the illness, or any other information that may be helpful to thecoroner in his inquiries (e.g. a woman who regularly laundered her partner’s dusty clothing).
The Coroner’s procedure
A doctor called to a family home or hospital to issue a death certificate, when someone has died of mesothelioma, should report the death to the local coroner immediately and a formal investigation into the death begins.
The coroner will make inquiries, often through a Coroner’s Officer, with a
view to answering four key questions at the subsequent inquest:
1) Who has died?
2) When did s/he die?2) When did s/he die?
3) Where did s/he die?
4) How did s/he die, i.e. the cause of death.
Registered charity of England and Wales – no. 326730
Charity registered in Scotland – no. SC038415
Some Coroners work alone without the support of coroner’s officers. Most will have the benefit of one or more Coroner’s Officers, but in some areas they will be serving police officers, usually uniformed. It is possible, therefore, in some areas that the family will be visited by uniformed police officers shortly after a person has died of mesothelioma.
The familyshould not be distressed by this and must remember that they are not under investigation themselves. They should try to answer the police officer’s questions as fully as possible. The officer will also question the family about the employment history of the deceased.
This is where a completed Mesothelioma/Asbestos related disease pro-forma, with details of theoccupations of the deceased during life, will be invaluable. Relatives may be asked formally to identify the body and many wish to do this. However, some coroners will allow a healthcare professional to carry out the formal identification if the family does not wish to do so.
This investigation takes place soon after the death has occurred in order that an inquest can be opened straight away. An interim death certificate, which allows the family to process the estate, cannot be issued until this inquest has been opened. In many cases, the coroner will also conduct a post mortem on the deceased to confirm the cause of death. Any delay in
this taking place lengthens the time the family have to wait to hold a funeral.
Some coroners do not always require a post-mortem examination, but if it is to be avoided it is essential that the diagnosis should be clear and that the doctor can certify that the cause of death was the asbestos-related condition – (i.e. that the patient died of the disease, not simply with the disease but from some other non-related condition). The body of the patient will usually be released soon after the inquest is opened and adjourned. The full, resumed inquest will take place some time later.
The coroner must hold an inquest to determine both the cause of death and whether it was due to occupational asbestos exposure or a naturally occurring disease process. Sometimes it’s not possible to sure on the balance of probability and then an Open or a Narrative verdict may be returned. On average an inquest takes around three months to complete, but in some cases it can be longer. Families should be prepared for this.
Further sources of advice and information:
British Lung Foundation• helpline: 08458 505020 • e: enquiries@blf-uk.org • w: www.lunguk.org
Coroners’ Society of England and Wales
• t: 0151 233 4708 • w: www.coroner.org.uk
by mesothelioma
When a person who has been diagnosed with asbestos related disease dies, it is considered an unnatural death by law and an inquest is required. One of the purposes of the inquest is to determine whether the death was attributable to an “industrial disease” (such as asbestosis) or to some other cause.
On occasion, dealing with the coroner and/or the police shortly after bereavement can be very difficult for families and those left behind.
It is acknowledged that at the time of the diagnosis, patients and their carers may not wish to discuss the procedures relating to the inquest.
However, provision of this information at some stage prior to death may be of considerable benefit to people affected by mesothelioma in order that the coroner’s procedures dos not come as a shock. Therefore, where possible, there should be the opportunity to discuss these procedures with people affected by mesothelioma. It is important to remember that you should seek permission from the patient to discuss details with all third parties including next of kin.
In some cases it may be the patient’s preference for this information to be discussed by a relative who maybe more able to understand the details at what is a very distressing time.
As part of the Multi-Disciplinary Team meeting, information about the patient’s work history should be reviewed and, if incomplete, a note made to record a comprehensive work historyby completing a pro forma.
This should include any occupations during life that may havecaused or contributed to the illness, or any other information that may be helpful to thecoroner in his inquiries (e.g. a woman who regularly laundered her partner’s dusty clothing).
The Coroner’s procedure
A doctor called to a family home or hospital to issue a death certificate, when someone has died of mesothelioma, should report the death to the local coroner immediately and a formal investigation into the death begins.
The coroner will make inquiries, often through a Coroner’s Officer, with a
view to answering four key questions at the subsequent inquest:
1) Who has died?
2) When did s/he die?2) When did s/he die?
3) Where did s/he die?
4) How did s/he die, i.e. the cause of death.
Registered charity of England and Wales – no. 326730
Charity registered in Scotland – no. SC038415
Some Coroners work alone without the support of coroner’s officers. Most will have the benefit of one or more Coroner’s Officers, but in some areas they will be serving police officers, usually uniformed. It is possible, therefore, in some areas that the family will be visited by uniformed police officers shortly after a person has died of mesothelioma.
The familyshould not be distressed by this and must remember that they are not under investigation themselves. They should try to answer the police officer’s questions as fully as possible. The officer will also question the family about the employment history of the deceased.
This is where a completed Mesothelioma/Asbestos related disease pro-forma, with details of theoccupations of the deceased during life, will be invaluable. Relatives may be asked formally to identify the body and many wish to do this. However, some coroners will allow a healthcare professional to carry out the formal identification if the family does not wish to do so.
This investigation takes place soon after the death has occurred in order that an inquest can be opened straight away. An interim death certificate, which allows the family to process the estate, cannot be issued until this inquest has been opened. In many cases, the coroner will also conduct a post mortem on the deceased to confirm the cause of death. Any delay in
this taking place lengthens the time the family have to wait to hold a funeral.
Some coroners do not always require a post-mortem examination, but if it is to be avoided it is essential that the diagnosis should be clear and that the doctor can certify that the cause of death was the asbestos-related condition – (i.e. that the patient died of the disease, not simply with the disease but from some other non-related condition). The body of the patient will usually be released soon after the inquest is opened and adjourned. The full, resumed inquest will take place some time later.
The coroner must hold an inquest to determine both the cause of death and whether it was due to occupational asbestos exposure or a naturally occurring disease process. Sometimes it’s not possible to sure on the balance of probability and then an Open or a Narrative verdict may be returned. On average an inquest takes around three months to complete, but in some cases it can be longer. Families should be prepared for this.
Further sources of advice and information:
British Lung Foundation• helpline: 08458 505020 • e: enquiries@blf-uk.org • w: www.lunguk.org
Coroners’ Society of England and Wales
• t: 0151 233 4708 • w: www.coroner.org.uk
