Home > Courts > Coroners Court > Reportable deaths

Reportable deaths

Magistrates Court - Coroners Court

What is a reportable death?

The Coroners Act 2003 provides for the investigation of reportable deaths. Reportable deaths are defined as deaths where:

the identity of the person is unknown
the death was violent or unnatural, such as accidents, falls, suicides or drug overdoses
the death happened in suspicious circumstances
a ‘cause of death’ certificate has not been issued and is not likely to be issued
the death was not the reasonably expected outcome of a health procedure
the death occurred in care
the death occurred in custody.

Deaths that are not the reasonably expected outcome of a health procedure

Definition: The person who died had undergone a health procedure and death was not the expected outcome of the procedure.

A health procedure includes dental, medical, diagnostic, surgical or other health related treatment or procedure and the administration of an anaesthetic, analgesic, sedative or other drug.

Deaths in care

Definition: The person who died:

had a disability and lived in either a level three accredited residential service (commonly referred to as a hostel) or a residential service funded or provided by Disability Services Queensland or Queensland Health or
was subject to involuntary assessment or treatment under the Mental Health Act 2000 and was either being taken to or detained in an authorised mental health service, detained because of a court order, or undertaking limited community treatment or
was a child awaiting adoption under the Adoption of Children Act 1964 or was a child placed in care under the Child Protection Act 1999.

Deaths in custody

Definition: The person who has died was either in custody, escaping from custody or trying to avoid custody.

Who reports a death to the coroner?

The Coroners Act 2003 imposes a duty on people to report “reportable deaths”. Usually a police officer or medical practitioner reports a death to a coroner. If the police officer or medical practitioner is unsure whether a death should be reported they will contact the local coroner to discuss the matter.

Last updated Tuesday, 20 November 2007 12:52