What steps should you take when a death occurs?
When someone dies there are many decisions and arrangements to be made. Unfortunately these often have to be made at a time of personal distress. The following article will give you guidance about what to do from the moment of a persons bereavement.
For example, you will have to get a medical certificate showing the cause of death, get the death registered, arrange a funeral and decide what to do with proprty posessions.
An appointment time will be given to collect personal belongings and the Medial Certificate of Death. The Medical Certificate of Death should then be taken to the local registrar. The death must be registered in the district where the death took place.
Also needed are:
- The Medical Certificate of Death
- The Deceased's Medical Card
- Details of the Deceased (i.e. Date & Place of Birth)
The Registrar will then:
- Register the Death
- Issue the Green Form (For the Funeral Director)
- Issue the D.S.S. Booklet
The Doctor may not be able to issue a Medical Certificate of Death and will inform the Coroner if:
- Death was Sudden, Violent, or caused by an Accident
- Death was caused by Industrial Disease
- Death occured while the patient was undergoing an operation or was under the effect of anaesthetic
The Coroner May
- Arrange for a Post Mortem examination. The consent of relatives is not required for this, but they can choose a doctor to be present. It may be important to know the cause of death accurately.
He will then:
- Issue a Pink Form for the Registrar of Births and Deaths, if the Post Mortem concludes that Death was due to Natural Causes.
Only the Cornoer can:
- Give permission for a Funeral to take place outside England or Wales.
- Give on Request, a letter confirming the fact of death for Social Security and Insurance Benefit Purposes if his enquiries are likely to take time.
Hold an Inquest if the Death was:
- Violent or caused by an Accident.
- If, after Post Mortem, the cause of death remains uncertain.
