When Mr David Atkinson*, a consultant upper GI surgeon from Leeds, was asked to provide a statement to the coroner, he contacted Medical Protection for support and guidance.

When Dr Mark Brushford*, an NHS consultant psychiatrist from Birmingham, was asked to provide a formal report to the Coroner, Medical Protection stepped in to support him.

GP Dr S is called before the coroner after the death of a 13-year-old patient.

Eating disorders can be complex conditions for clinicians to manage. Dr Emma Davies, Medicolegal Consultant at Medical Protection, looks at a case of anorexia that resulted in our member being called to an inquest.

An elderly patient dies after his prescription goes uncollected. Who is at fault – the GP or the patient’s care home? Medical Protection assisted a member at the resulting inquest.

After a serious car crash, Dr C is called before an inquest – Medical Protection is called in to support.

An inquest is a fact-finding exercise that is conducted by the coroner and, in some cases, in front of a jury. The purpose of an inquest is to find out who died – when, where, how and in what circumstances. This factsheet gives further information about what happens at an inquest.

If a death occurs in a violent or unnatural manner, in custody, or suddenly but without certain cause, a coroner has a duty to enquire into the death. This factsheet sets out the role of a coroner, the reporting process and what will happen once you have reported a death to the coroner.

If a patient dies and the death is reportable to the coroner, you should leave all equipment in place until you have discussed the case with the coroner’s officer. This factsheet gives you further information about what to do.