Coroners frequently call on GPs to attend or provide information for an inquest into a patient’s death, on behalf of the practice.
An inquest is a fact-finding exercise and is an inquisitorial rather than an adversarial process. The coroner does not aim to establish blame, culpability or liability but rather to answer four questions. These are:
- Who died?
- Where did they die?
- When did they die?
- How did they die (or sometimes “in what circumstances” the deceased came by their death)?
GP locums could be required to assist the coroner in an inquest into a patient’s death by offering all relevant information. They are permitted to remain silent only if commenting may lead to criminal proceedings being taken against them.