Post death procedure - East Cheshire NHS Trust
Post death procedure - East Cheshire NHS Trust Post death procedure - East Cheshire NHS Trust
The examination can give valuable information about an illness, its effect on the body andmay explain why a patient died. This information may make it easier for other familymembers to come to terms with the death.Post-mortem examinations can also provide valuable information, which can help doctors totreat other patients with the same kind of illness and can provide vital information forresearch.REASONS FOR HOSPITAL DEATHS TO BE REPORTED TO THE CORONER The cause of death is unknown or unclear. The doctor did not treat /attend the deceased in their last illness, or if they did arecurrently not available. The Registration Regulations cannot be satisfied for some other reason e.g. thename of the deceased is unknown. The deceased has not been seen by a doctor within the 14 days previous to theirdeath. Died within 24 hours of admission. The death was due to violence,unnatural, suspicious or unexpected. Death due to suicide attempt, drug or solvent abuses. Had an operation within the last 12 months (this could be any invasive procedure). Death as a result of injuries due to an accident or has a complication of theseinjuries, no matter when the accident occurred. (The year and a day rule no longerapply.) Suffered a fracture within the last 12 months. If the death is due to self neglect or neglect by others including poor care in aresidential or nursing home. The death may be due to an abortion. The death may be due to an industrial disease ie Asbestosis, or related to theiremployment or the deceased was in receipt of industrial/disablement pension or awar pension, even if the death does not appear to be related to the pensionablecondition. The death occurred during an operation or before recovering from an anaesthetic orif it linked to an operation, or any other medical procedure. The death may be due to lack of medical care or allegations of medicalmismanagement have been made. The death (whether natural or not) occurred while under arrest or during or shortlyafter detention in Police or prison custody. If a prisoner dies in hospital he is still incustody.CORONERS – GENERAL INFORMATION:To report deaths or to seek advice during the hours of 7.30 am to 3.00 pm, Monday toFriday, telephone 01925 442470 or 01925 442480Alternatively, telephone the Coroners office in Warrington on 01925 444216.answerphone is available for out of hours messages.AnTo report deaths at all other times telephone Police Control on 01244 350000.23/34
SECTION EIGHT - INFECTION PREVENTION & CONTROLHospital Guidelines on the precautions to be taken with the bodies of thosewho have died with a known or suspected infection1. INTRODUCTIONOpinion differs among health care workers on the management of a body associated withan infection and the measures taken or advised to control the perceived hazards areoften insensitively applied. The indiscriminate use of body bags may cause needlessanxiety for the bereaved family, friends and also among the hospital staff.Grieving is essential for the healing process and in some religions and cultures it mayrequire special rituals including washing the body and kissing. Not allowing the last rites tobe performed before placing the body in a plastic bag or sheet may cause deepresentment. Partners or relatives should be asked about their wishes before bodypreparation is commenced.The safety of all persons who may come in contact with a body associated with an infectionmust always be given high priority and this is covered in various Acts of Parliament and byRegulations made under these Acts. There should be a balance between what is requiredfor safety and the sensitivity and dignity of the bereaved.Not all cases of infection will have been identified before death and for this reason it isstrongly recommended that high standards are adopted for the handling of all bodies.2. SPREAD OF INFECTIONOrganisms in a dead body are unlikely to infect healthy people with intact skin, but there areother ways they may be spread.a. Needlestick injuries with a contaminated instrument or sharp fragment of bone.b. Contaminated aerosols or splashes from body openings or wounds.c. Aerosol from lungs, eg. tubercle bacilli when condensation could possibly be forcedout through the mouth.d. Intestinal pathogens from anal and oral orifices.e. Through and from abrasions, wounds and sores on the skin.f. Splashes or aerosols onto the conjunctivae.The risks of infection are not high (and no more than in life) and are usually prevented bythe use of appropriate protective clothing and the observance of COSHH (2002)regulations.If a risk of infection is known or suspected, certain procedures need to be followed (seeAppendix I and II).3. COMMUNICATION24/34
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The examination can give valuable information about an illness, its effect on the body andmay explain why a patient died. This information may make it easier for other familymembers to come to terms with the <strong>death</strong>.<strong>Post</strong>-mortem examinations can also provide valuable information, which can help doctors totreat other patients with the same kind of illness and can provide vital information forresearch.REASONS FOR HOSPITAL DEATHS TO BE REPORTED TO THE CORONER The cause of <strong>death</strong> is unknown or unclear. The doctor did not treat /attend the deceased in their last illness, or if they did arecurrently not available. The Registration Regulations cannot be satisfied for some other reason e.g. thename of the deceased is unknown. The deceased has not been seen by a doctor within the 14 days previous to their<strong>death</strong>. Died within 24 hours of admission. The <strong>death</strong> was due to violence,unnatural, suspicious or unexpected. Death due to suicide attempt, drug or solvent abuses. Had an operation within the last 12 months (this could be any invasive <strong>procedure</strong>). Death as a result of injuries due to an accident or has a complication of theseinjuries, no matter when the accident occurred. (The year and a day rule no longerapply.) Suffered a fracture within the last 12 months. If the <strong>death</strong> is due to self neglect or neglect by others including poor care in aresidential or nursing home. The <strong>death</strong> may be due to an abortion. The <strong>death</strong> may be due to an industrial disease ie Asbestosis, or related to theiremployment or the deceased was in receipt of industrial/disablement pension or awar pension, even if the <strong>death</strong> does not appear to be related to the pensionablecondition. The <strong>death</strong> occurred during an operation or before recovering from an anaesthetic orif it linked to an operation, or any other medical <strong>procedure</strong>. The <strong>death</strong> may be due to lack of medical care or allegations of medicalmismanagement have been made. The <strong>death</strong> (whether natural or not) occurred while under arrest or during or shortlyafter detention in Police or prison custody. If a prisoner dies in hospital he is still incustody.CORONERS – GENERAL INFORMATION:To report <strong>death</strong>s or to seek advice during the hours of 7.30 am to 3.00 pm, Monday toFriday, telephone 01925 442470 or 01925 442480Alternatively, telephone the Coroners office in Warrington on 01925 444216.answerphone is available for out of hours messages.AnTo report <strong>death</strong>s at all other times telephone Police Control on 01244 350000.23/34
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