Inquests UK

[cazwiz]

Hello,

Does anyone know what inquests involve in the UK? What will be looked into, what evidence gathered. Do I need to worry about phone / laptop / paperwork / browser history? Is a character profile built up? Are health professionals questioned? I really don't want to risk getting anyone into trouble, especially if they have tried and failed to keep me safe. It's my fault if I choose to not be safe and take my life, not theirs. I don't want to cause embarrassment either. What does and doesn't come up in inquests?

 

[Lostnotfound]

No idea so no help to you at all but I am interested in this.

Something tells me that if the coroner records a verdict of suicide (via autopsy and evidence at the scene I think) then there is no inquest.

 

[Quarky00]

Look at all that information !

If the death is found to be non-violent, an inquest is unnecessary. In 2004 in England and Wales, there were 514,000 deaths of which 225,500 were referred to the coroner. Of those, 115,800 resulted in post-mortem examinations and there were 28,300 inquests, 570 with a jury.

A Coroner must investigate a death in his/her jurisdiction if there is reason to suspect that:

1. The death is violent or unnatural
2. The cause of death is unknown
3. The death occurred whilst the deceased person was in custody (such as a prison, police cell or psychiatric hospital)

The Coroner needs to establish through his/her investigations who the deceased person was, when they died, where they died and how they died.

At an inquest there are parties called 'Properly Interested Persons' (PIPs) who take an active role in the process- they often include family members of the deceased, representatives of the establishment where the death died (if in custody at the time of death) and those who were directly involved in the care of the deceased. It is normal for PIPs to be legally represented and through their representatives PIPs can receive information from the Coroner prior to the inquest (known as disclosure), receive directions from the Coroner, ask questions of witnesses at the hearing and submit legal arguments to the Coroner about any point of law that may arise.

The Coroner and/or Jury will hear evidence from live witnesses who attend at court and also may be read witness statements from witnesses who are not present. Once the Coroner has heard from all of the witnesses in relation to the circumstances of the death, the Coroner is then able to call witnesses to address any concerns that have arisen that might give him/her cause for concern that there is a risk of further deaths occurring in the same establishment or in similar circumstances.

The Inquest: It is not a trial and its purpose is to discover the facts of the death, not to apportion blame.

When a death occurs that may be suicide, the police may:
Ask you questions to explore how the person who has died was acting in the days and weeks before their death.
Ask you to help them confirm the person's identity, either by seeing them and confirming who has died, or by providing photographs. This may happen immediately if you found the person, or you may be asked to go to the mortuary to do this.
Take away any items that could be connected with the death. If the Police take anything away with them, they will return it.

 

[Lostnotfound]

Look at all that information !

we can always rely on you @Quarky00 - this place would be lost without you xxxx

 

[Quarky00]

To answer OP:

What does and doesn't come up in inquests?

Everything or nothing ; depenends on circumstances .

Vague broad question ;)

 

[Comfortably Numb]

If you are supported in any capacity by mental health services in the U.K., someone is likely to be called to coroners court to justify their actions or omissions in the care that was or was not provided. Due to the blame culture, it is possible that someone could be found to be at fault if you were to complete a suicide attempt.

 

[cazwiz]

Super helpful information. Thank you. Unfortunately it makes me more reluctant to ctb. I hate having to continue to live for everyone else's benefit when it is no good for me.

 

[Lostnotfound]

This is a pro-choice forum so literally what it says on the tin. If you want to CTB then there is support but equally if you dont there is support. There is also a recovery section which you might find useful. Whatever, take your time and dont let anyone make any decisions for you

 

[cazwiz]

To answer OP:

Everything or nothing ; depenends on circumstances .

Vague broad question ;)

Yes.

Very short answer :)