Access to coronial documents

Witnesses

Autopies

What is an autopsy?

An autopsy is also known as a post mortem. It is a detailed medical examination of a person’s body after death which can help explain how and why the person died.

During the autopsy the body of the deceased is treated with respect and great care is taken to preserve the dignity of the person.

The coroner can order three types of autopsy:

External examination – this involves a visual inspection of the body and the taking of a blood sample

External examination and partial internal examination – this involves a visual inspection of the body, the taking of blood and tissue samples and the opening of one or two of the body cavities and examination of some internal organs

External examination and full internal examination – this involves a visual inspection of the body, the taking of blood and tissue samples and examination of all internal organs including the brain, heart and lungs.

The medical practitioner performing the autopsy uses techniques similar to those used in a surgical operation.  During the autopsy organs, tissue, urine or blood samples are sometimes taken for further testing.

Why is an autopsy performed?

Even if the cause of death seems clear, the person may have had a medical condition which was not apparent during their life.

This information can be important for family members who are trying to come to terms with the death. It may also provide the family with important information if the death was due to a genetic disease.

Who performs the autopsy?

When are autopsies performed?

Unless there are objections to an autopsy, it is usually performed on the day the person died or the following day. This allows the person’s body to be released to the family as quickly as possible.

Additional tests may take six to eight weeks and specialist testing (such as DNA) will take longer. However, in most cases these tests do not impede on the release of the body for a funeral.

What if I don’t want an internal autopsy performed?

Coroners place great emphasis on the views of the family members and are required to consider any concerns raised by a family member or other person with sufficient interest when making the final decision about whether an autopsy is required.

If the coroner decides that it is still necessary to order an internal examination the coroner must give a copy of the order to the person raising the concern.  That person can apply to the Supreme Court for a review of the coroner’s decision. You may wish to seek legal assistance and advice before making such an application to the Supreme Court.

What further tests may be performed after an autopsy?

• Toxicology tests - samples of blood or urine extracted from the body are sent to a laboratory for testing to establish whether any chemicals (poisons, drugs, medication or alcohol) were in the body when the person died.
• Histology - small samples of tissue and organs may be sent to a laboratory for testing which may indicate degenerative or genetic diseases.
• Microbiology – samples of blood, urine or tissue may be sent to a laboratory for testing to indicate if there was a bacterial, viral, fungal or parasitic infection present.

Are organs kept after an autopsy?

If this occurs, the family will be notified and given the reason why a whole organ has to be retained. If you do not want an organ to be kept you need to advise the coroner as soon as possible.

What about tissue donation?

What about organ donation?

What is an autopsy report?

How can I get a copy of an autopsy report?

The autopsy report can be graphic and contains technical medical terminology. An autopsy report can be quite confronting and upsetting due to its content. If you do obtain a copy of the autopsy report, you may wish to consider having your doctor go through it with you.

How do I obtain access to samples that were taken during the autopsy for DNA testing to assist with a paternity test?

• If the coronial investigation is in progress, you should contact the coroner’s clerk at the relevant Magistrates Court for further information about how to access samples taken during the autopsy. If you are unsure which coroner is handling the investigation, please contact the Office of the State Coroner for further assistance.
• If the coronial investigation has been completed you must write a letter to the state coroner  explaining why you are seeking access to the samples. You will receive a letter in due course advising whether your application has been approved. This letter should be kept as it may be required by Queensland Health Forensic and Scientific Services (formerly QHSS). If the application is approved you should contact an accredited paternity testing laboratory.

The laboratory that you select to perform the testing should liaise with Queensland Health Forensic and Scientific Services to organise the release of the samples to their laboratory for testing.

Please note: the Office of the State Coroner does not make enquiries to establish if the samples are still available and viable. The office is also unable to assist with the location of accredited laboratories.

I want to donate a/my body for medical research

Information on donations to medical research is available from the University of Queensland.

Can sperm from a deceased person be retrieved for IVF treatment?

Doctors and coroners have no power to authorise removal of sperm from a deceased person. Please refer to the fact sheet provided by Queensland Health Pathology and Scientific Services.

What happens to the personal property of the deceased?

Personal property such as jewellery will be returned to the family. Some items may not be returned until the investigation is completed and clothing is usually destroyed when the deceased is admitted to the mortuary. Any enquiries about the deceased's property should be made to the investigating officer.

Death certificates and coronial documents

How do I obtain a copy of the death certificate?

You will need to contact the Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages to obtain a copy of the death certificate.

How do I obtain copies of coronial documents?

Information on obtaining coronial documents is available via the Accessing coronial documents link.

Funerals and costs

When can I organise the funeral?

Once the autopsy is complete, and the coroner is satisfied that it is not necessary to retain the body for further examination, the deceased may be released for burial or cremation. The deceased is normally released to the funeral director chosen by the family to conduct the funeral. The funeral director will complete the necessary forms asking the coroner to release the body for the funeral. The family decides which funeral director to use. 

Which funeral director should I use?

Police must use the services of the government contracted funeral director to transport the person who has died to a mortuary. However, there is no obligation on the family to use the services of this government contracted funeral director to conduct the funeral.  Funeral directors can be located in your local phone book.

Can I transport the deceased overseas?

If the deceased needs to be transported interstate or overseas, arrangements should be made with a funeral director. They will prepare the body and organise any required documentation.

How do I make a complaint about the Government funeral contractor?

Complaints in relation to the conduct of, or services provided by, a government contracted funeral director should be directed to the Registrar, Office of the State Coroner. Your complaint will be investigated and you will be sent a response in due course.  Please note that we are unable to assist with complaints about funeral directors in relation to their conduct/services when they are not acting under our direction.

What should I do if I can’t afford a funeral?

It is recommended that you contact more than one funeral director to obtain quotes for the funeral. If you feel uncomfortable doing this, ask a friend to do it for you as they are less likely to be as emotionally involved.

Generally, cremations are less expensive than burials because there is no need to purchase a plot of land at the cemetery. You may wish to have the cremation in the family’s absence and collect the ashes at a later date. This negates the cost of a full crematorium service but doesn’t prevent the family organising their own private memorial service 

If, after obtaining quotes, you believe you are still unable to pay for the funeral, you may in certain circumstances be eligible for Burials Assistance. Please refer to our fact sheet called Burials assistance or contact your local Magistrates Court or the Office of the State Coroner for further guidance.

As a family member of a homicide victim, how do I apply for financial assistance, particularly in relation to funeral costs?

Please contact the Criminal Injury Compensation Unit (CICU), the Queensland Homicide Victims’ Support Group or your local police station for further assistance.

Can I obtain burials assistance?

Burials assistance is a burial or cremation service for deceased persons who have limited assets, or family and friends who cannot organise or pay for a funeral.
 
This assistance is managed in accordance with the Burials Assistance Act 1965 by the Department of Justice and Attorney-General.

If your application is approved, a burials assistance officer will contact the government-contracted funeral director to arrange the funeral in the area where the death occurred.

The funeral service offered by the department is a plain, simple and dignified funeral.

The Burials Assistance Act 1965 allows the Department of Justice and Attorney-General to recover the costs of the funeral from the estate of the deceased. If you become aware of any available funds from the estate you must advise the department by contacting the Magistrates Court where the burials assistance application was approved or the Office of the State Coroner.