http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2019/1112The Notification of Deaths Regulations 2019texttext/xmlenMEDICAL PROFESSION, ENGLAND AND WALESCORONERS, ENGLAND AND WALESStatute Law Database2024-09-25Expert Participation2024-09-09 These Regulations impose a duty on registered medical practitioners to notify a senior coroner of a person's death under certain circumstances. The senior coroner to be notified is the senior coroner appointed for the area in which the body of the deceased person lies (the “relevant senior coroner”). 2019 No. 1112Medical Profession, England And WalesCoroners, England And WalesThe Notification of Deaths Regulations 2019Made10th July 2019Laid before Parliament15th July 2019Coming into force1st October 2019The Lord Chancellor makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by section 18(1) of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 .In accordance with section 18(2) of that Act, the Lord Chancellor has consulted the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and the Chief Coroner.Citation, commencement and <Substitution ChangeId="key-05538d0dcd3aaa57198e068f507d4054-1726742067563" CommentaryRef="key-05538d0dcd3aaa57198e068f507d4054">interpretation</Substitution> 11These Regulations may be cited as the Notification of Deaths Regulations 2019 and come into force on 1st October 2019.2In these regulations—“attending practitioner”, in relation to a deceased person, means a registered medical practitioner who attended the deceased person before their death;“relevant senior coroner”, in relation to a death, means the senior coroner appointed for the coroner area in which the body of the deceased person lies.Duty to notify a relevant senior coroner of a death21A registered medical practitioner must notify the relevant senior coroner of a person's death if—athe registered medical practitioner comes to know of the death on or after the coming into force of these Regulations; andbat least one of the circumstances described in regulation 3(1) applies.2But the duty in paragraph (1) does not apply if the registered medical practitioner reasonably believes that—athe relevant senior coroner has already been notified of the death under these Regulations; orba referral has been made to the relevant senior coroner under regulation 3(1)(b)(ii) or 10(1) of the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death Regulations 2024.Circumstances in which the duty to notify arises31The circumstances are—athe registered medical practitioner suspects that that the person's death was due to—ipoisoning, including by an otherwise benign substance;iiexposure to or contact with a toxic substance;iiithe use of a medicinal product, controlled drug or psychoactive substance;ivviolence;vtrauma or injury;viself-harm;viineglect, including self-neglect;viiithe person undergoing a treatment or procedure of a medical or similar nature; orixan injury or disease attributable to any employment held by the person during the person's lifetime;bthe registered medical practitioner suspects that the person's death was unnatural but does not fall within any of the circumstances listed in sub-paragraph (a);cthe registered medical practitioner—iis an attending practitioner in relation to the deceased person; butiidespite taking reasonable steps to determine the cause of death, considers that the cause of death is unknown;dthe registered medical practitioner suspects that the person died while in custody or otherwise in state detention ;ethe registered medical practitioner reasonably believes that there is no attending practitioner in relation to the deceased person;fthe registered medical practitioner reasonably believes that—ithere is an attending practitioner in relation to the deceased person; butiian attending practitioner is not available within a reasonable time of the person's death to prepare and sign an attending practitioner’s certificate;gthe registered medical practitioner, after taking reasonable steps to ascertain the identity of the deceased person, is unable to do so.2In this regulation—... “attending practitioner’s certificate” has the meaning given in regulation 2(1) of the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death Regulations 2024; ...“controlled drug” has the same meaning as in the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 ;“employment” means any employment, whether paid or unpaid, including—work under a contract for services or as an office holder; andwork experience provided pursuant to a training course or in the course of training for employment;“medicinal product” has the same meaning given by regulation 2 of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 ;“psychoactive substance” has the same meaning as in the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 .Notifying the relevant senior coroner41A registered medical practitioner who must notify a relevant senior coroner of a person's death under regulation 2(1) must do so as soon as is reasonably practicable after the duty arises.2If at that time there are exceptional circumstances to justify doing so, the registered medical practitioner may notify a relevant senior coroner orally, otherwise the registered medical practitioner must notify the relevant senior coroner in writing.3When notifying a relevant senior coroner, a registered medical practitioner must provide such of the following information as is known to the registered medical practitioner—athe registered medical practitioner's—ifull name;iipostal address;iiitelephone number; andivemail address;bthe deceased person's—ifull name;iidate of birth;iiisex;ivaddress or usual place of residence;voccupation;cthe name and address of—ithe deceased person's next of kin; oriiwhere there is no next of kin, the person responsible for the body of the deceased person;dthe circumstances in regulation 3(1) which apply to the death;ethe place of death;fthe date and time of death;gwhere the deceased person was under the age of 18, the name and address of—ia parent of the deceased person; oriianother person who had parental responsibility for the deceased person;hif the registered medical practitioner is not an attending practitioner in relation to the deceased person, the name of any registered medical practitioner who is.4When notifying a relevant senior coroner, a registered medical practitioner, in addition to providing the information specified in paragraph (3)—amust provide any further information the registered medical practitioner considers to be relevant; andbmay provide any other information.5A registered medical practitioner who notifies a relevant senior coroner orally under paragraph (2) must, as soon as reasonably practicable afterwards, confirm in writing to the relevant senior coroner the information given orally.6In this regulation, “consultant medical practitioner” means a registered medical practitioner who is listed in the Specialist Register of the General Medical Council.Signed by authority of the Lord ChancellorEdward Argar Parliamentary Under Secretary of State
Ministry of Justice

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations impose a duty on registered medical practitioners to notify a senior coroner of a person's death under certain circumstances. The senior coroner to be notified is the senior coroner appointed for the area in which the body of the deceased person lies (the “relevant senior coroner”).

Regulation 2 provides that the duty applies where the registered medical practitioner comes to know of the death on or after the coming into force of these Regulations and at least one of the circumstances set out in regulation 3 applies in relation to the death.

But the duty does not apply if the registered medical practitioner reasonably believes that the relevant senior coroner has already been notified of the death under these Regulations.

Regulation 3 describes the circumstances referred to in regulation 2.

Regulation 4 sets out the requirements which apply when notifying the relevant senior coroner. This regulation provides when the coroner must be notified, how the coroner may be notified and what information must be given to the relevant senior coroner.

An impact assessment has not been produced for these Regulations as no impact, or no significant impact, on the private or voluntary sectors is foreseen.

2009 c. 25; section 18 was amended by S.I. 2018/378.For the definition of “state detention”, see section 48 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009.1971 (c. 38).S.I. 2012/1916.2016 (c. 2).Reg. 3 in force at 1.10.2019, see reg. 1(1)Reg. 1 in force at 1.10.2019, see reg. 1(1)Reg. 2 in force at 1.10.2019, see reg. 1(1)Reg. 4 in force at 1.10.2019, see reg. 1(1)Word in reg. 1 heading substituted (9.9.2024) by The Cremation, Coroners and Notification of Deaths (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/668), regs. 1(1), 4(2)(a) (with reg. 5)Reg. 1(2) substituted (9.9.2024) by The Cremation, Coroners and Notification of Deaths (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/668), regs. 1(1), 4(2)(b) (with reg. 5)Reg. 2(2) substituted (9.9.2024) by The Cremation, Coroners and Notification of Deaths (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/668), regs. 1(1), 4(3) (with reg. 5)Words in reg. 3(1)(e) substituted (9.9.2024) by The Cremation, Coroners and Notification of Deaths (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/668), regs. 1(1), 4(4)(a)(ii) (with reg. 5)Reg. 3(1)(f) substituted (9.9.2024) by The Cremation, Coroners and Notification of Deaths (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/668), regs. 1(1), 4(4)(a)(iii) (with reg. 5)Words in reg. 3(1)(c)(i) substituted (9.9.2024) by The Cremation, Coroners and Notification of Deaths (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/668), regs. 1(1), 4(4)(a)(i) (with reg. 5)Words in reg. 3(2) omitted (9.9.2024) by virtue of The Cremation, Coroners and Notification of Deaths (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/668), regs. 1(1), 4(4)(b)(i) (with reg. 5)Words in reg. 3(2) inserted (9.9.2024) by The Cremation, Coroners and Notification of Deaths (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/668), regs. 1(1), 4(4)(b)(ii) (with reg. 5)Words in reg. 3(2) omitted (9.9.2024) by virtue of The Cremation, Coroners and Notification of Deaths (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/668), regs. 1(1), 4(4)(b)(iii) (with reg. 5)Reg. 4(3)(h) substituted (9.9.2024) by The Cremation, Coroners and Notification of Deaths (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/668), regs. 1(1), 4(5) (with reg. 5)