Jervis on Coroners, 15th Edition

PART I
THE OFFICE OF CORONER

Chapter 1. General Introduction
Context 
Early history 
Status and Position of Coroners 
The Coroner’s Inquiry 
Other Functions 
Relations with Central Government 
Human Rights

Chapter 2. The Office of Coroner
Classification of Coroners 
Appointment 
Terms of Appointment: The Chief Coroner 
Senior, Area and Assistant Coroners: Terms of Appointment

Chapter 3. Medical Examiners
Introduction 
Appointment 
Functions 
National Medical Examiner

Chapter 4. The Territorial Jurisdiction of Coroners
Territorial Jurisdiction 
Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction

PART II
THE INVESTIGATION

Chapter 5. Beginning the Investigation
Basis of Coronial Jurisdiction 
What Amounts to a Body 
Jurisdiction without a Body Duty to Report Death 
Certificate of Cause of Death 
Deaths Associated with Operations or Anaesthesia 
Doctor’s Knowledge of Criminal Acts 
Registrar’s Report to Coroner 
Other Reports to Coroner 
Report to Registrar 
Other Reports 
Coroner’s Enquiries 
Violent or Unnatural Deaths 
Sudden Death of which the Cause is Unknown 
Death in Custody or State Detention 
Deaths Outside England and Wales 
Deaths Involving Visiting Forces 
State and Diplomatic Immunity 
Concurrent Jurisdiction 
Refusal to Hold an Inquest

Chapter 6. The Scope of the Investigation
Introduction 
The Four Questions 
The Effect of the Human Rights Act 1998

Chapter 7. Information and Publicity
Context 
Publicity 
Coroner’s Powers to Obtain Information 
Disclosure of Information 
Data Protection 
Freedom of Information 
Copyright 
Privilege

Chapter 8. Coroner’s Powers Before Inquest
Reference to Coroner 
Exhumation 
Possession and Release of Body 
Preliminary Inquiries 
The Investigation 
Post-Mortem Examinations 
After the Examination 
Anatomical Organ Transplants 
Examination 
Human Gametes

Chapter 9. Disposal of Human Remains
Possession of a Body 
Disposal of a Body 
Removal of Bodies out of England and Wales 

PART III
THE INQUEST

Chapter 10. The Inquest: Preliminaries
Status of the Court 
Opening and Adjourning the Inquest 
Time of Inquest 
Place of Inquest 
Notice of Inquest 
Summoning Witnesses 
Joinder of Inquests 
Summoning a Jury 
Legal Aid 
Preparation for the Hearing 
Compulsory Suspension of Investigation and Adjournment of Inquest 
Pre-Inquest Review

Chapter 11. Procedure at the Inquest: Part I
Holding/Resuming the Inquest 
Publicity 
The Jury 
Composition of the Bench 
Counsel to the Inquest 
Views 
Adjournment of the Inquest 
Representation and Advocacy 
Application by Interested Persons 
Reporting Restrictions 
Contempt of Court

Chapter 12. Procedure at the Inquest: Part II
Witnesses 
Evidence 
Documentary Evidence 
Admission of Documents 
Other Procedural Matters

Chapter 13. Determination and Record of Inquest
Determination and Findings 
Jury Cases 
Record of Inquest 
Closing the Inquest 
Reports to Prevent Future Deaths 

PART IV
SPECIAL CASES

Chapter 14. Homicide
The Practice in Homicide Cases 
Initial Inquiries 
Post-Mortem Examination 
Procedure Following Post-Mortem Examination 
Holding the Inquest 
The law of Homicide in Outline 
Participation in crime

Chapter 15. Notifiable Accidents and Prescribed Diseases
General 
Notifiable Accidents and Occurrences 
Agricultural Accidents 
Injury in the Course of Employment 
Notifiable Diseases 
Industrial Diseases 
Other Reportable Diseases

Chapter 16. Treasure
Medieval Definition 
The Treasure Act 1996 
Codes of Practice and Reports 
Jurisdiction of the Coroner 
The Coroner’s Powers and Duties 
Disclaimer 
Function of an Inquest into Treasure 
Evidence and Procedure 
Verdict 
Modern Application

Chapter 17. Major Disasters
Introduction 
Cadre of DVI Coroners 
Contingency Planning 
Mortuary and Other Facilities 
The Course of the Inquiry 
Pathology 
Costs 
Coordination with Other Inquiries 
Holding the Inquest 
Multiple Deaths by Homicide 

PART V
AFTER THE INQUEST

Chapter 18. Matters After the Inquiry
Functus officio 
Post-Inquiry Duties 
Other Returns 
Fees, Allowances and Expenses 
Access to Documents and Information 
General Administrative Matters

Chapter 19. Appeals
Introduction 
Statutory Power 
Judicial Review 
Costs 
Appeals to the Court of Appeal 
Residual Common Law Powers 
Funding of Legal Services 
Consequences

Chapter 20. Further Proceedings

PART VI
THE INTERNATIONAL DIMENSION

Chapter 21. Coroners and Human Rights
Introduction 
The Right to Life 
The Right to a Fair Hearing 
The Right to Respect for Private and Family Life 
The Right to Freedom of Religion and Belief 
The right to Freedom of Expression 
Other Miscellaneous Rights

Chapter 22. Comparative Death Inquiry Law
Introduction 
Common Law Systems 
Mixed Jurisdictions 
Civilian Systems 
Conclusion 

PART VII
APPENDICES

Appendix 1. Statutes and Statutory Extracts 
Appendix 2. Statutory Instruments 
Appendix 3. Forms 
Appendix 4. Precedents for Judicial Review 
Appendix 5. Death 
Appendix 6. Forensic Medicine and Pathology 
Appendix 7. Useful Websites

Paul Matthews, B.C.L. (Oxon), LL.D. (Lond.) is a Solicitor Advocate (Higher Courts: Civil) at Withers LLP and is HM Senior Coroner for the City of London. He is also a part-time Professor at Kings College, London, a county court recorder and a deputy chancery master. He has written for Sweet and Maxwell for many years in both Jervis on Coroners and Matthews and Malek on Disclosure. 

Consultant editors: (1) Selena Lynch, HM Senior Coroner for South London, (2) Michael Burgess, former coroner for Surrey and the Royal Household and secretary of the Coroners’ Society, and now assistant coroner for Surrey Berkshire West Sussex and Norfolk, and (3) Roy Palmer, former senior coroner for South London and now assistant coroner for the City of London.