Officer said it was 'for the coroner.'
BBM
Possibly a Freudian “slip up” here.. and could be very telling IMO
Usually, you have a body before you you prepare a report for the Coroner…
Until then, it is just an investigation …
The reasons that could be applicable in this case for a Report to the Coroner are:
Types of reportable deaths
Unknown identity
Even if nothing about the death is suspicious, the death of a person with unknown identity must be reported to a coroner unless the identity can be established with enough certainty to register the death.
Fingerprints, photographs, dental examinations or DNA can be used to identify the person.
Violent or unnatural death
A death is violent or unnatural if caused by accident, suicide or homicide rather than a disease’s natural progression. Car accidents, falls, drowning, electrocutions, drug overdoses, and industrial and domestic accidents are all reported to coroners.
These deaths are reportable even if a delay occurs between the incident causing injury and the death, as long as the injury caused or contributed to the death and the person wouldn’t have died without the injury.
Suspicious death
Suspicious deaths are generally those where homicide is suspected or cannot be excluded. A suspicious death is also one where the death has occurred unnaturally but it's unclear whether another person has been involved. If police consider there is sufficient evidence to lay criminal charges in connection with the death they may do so. In these cases, the coronial investigation is postponed until those charges are resolved.
Cause of death certificate hasn't been issued and is unlikely to be issued
Where a patient appears to have died from natural causes, medical practitioners must issue a cause of death certificate if they can determine the probable cause of death. If they can’t, they must report the death to the coroner for an autopsy to determine the medical cause of death.
Assistance is available to help medical practitioners to fulfil this obligation, including:
- useful information about the issuing of certificates can be found through HealthPathways and Primary Health Networks
- a forensic physician in the Clinical Forensic Medical Unit at Queensland Health is available during business hours to discuss cases and provide advice
- the coronial registrar in the Coroners Court is available during business hours and can provide advice about whether it is appropriate to issue a death certificate.
If a medical practitioner cannot form an opinion about the cause of death or has concerns about the circumstances of death, they must report the death to the coroner.
For further information, read -
Issuing cause of death certificates for apparent natural causes deaths – a guide for Queensland medical practitioners (PDF, 93.1 KB)
What is a reportable death and who should report them
www.courts.qld.gov.au
