What should I report to Procurator Fiscal?
The cause of death must be intimated to the Procurator Fiscal following the hospital post mortem examination. Where the cause of death has not been ascertained or the Procurator Fiscal requires further information, a police report is likely to be requested.
Why would a death go to Procurator Fiscal?
Most sudden and unexplained deaths are reported to the Procurator Fiscal because a doctor is unable to confirm the cause of the death and is therefore unable to issue a death certificate. FAIs can be held in other circumstances if it is thought by COPFS to be in the public interest to do so.
What happens when a death is reported to the Procurator Fiscal?
Once a death has been reported to the Procurator Fiscal, the Procurator Fiscal has legal responsibility for the body, usually until a death certificate is written. The Procurator Fiscal will usually surrender legal responsibility for the body once the death certificate has been issued.
How long does a toxicology report take in Scotland?
The final results of the examination will usually be available in 21 days and a copy is sent to the deceased’s general practitioner. Unless the deceased did not wish this, a copy of the report can be requested by the nominated representative/nearest relative.
How many Procurator Fiscal’s are there in Scotland?
Areas. There are eleven procurators fiscal in Scotland, each covering a geographical area or jurisdiction with a central office.
Can I speak to the Procurator Fiscal?
You can contact us in person at your local Procurator Fiscal’s office, by telephoning our National Enquiry Point on 01389 739 557, or in writing by emailing us at [email protected] or by writing to Response and Information Unit, Crown Office, 25 Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1LA.
Who investigates a suspicious death?
coroner
To investigate the risk and uncertainty of suspicious death, another kind of death worker—a coroner or a medical examiner—toils in a morgue. These professionals are part of an invisible public health and criminal justice infrastructure whose sole task is to investigate suspicious deaths.
What happens after a suicidal death UK?
How does the Coroner get involved after a suicide? A death such as suicide will always be reported to the coroner. This is usually a brief meeting in the coroner’s court, allowing them to ‘adjourn’ (postpone) the full inquest to a later date to allow sufficient time for information to be gathered.
What is a fatal accident inquiry in Scotland?
A fatal accident inquiry is a Scottish judicial process which investigates and determines the circumstances of some deaths occurring in Scotland.
What happens if no cause of death is found UK?
If the post mortem shows an unnatural cause of death, or if the cause of death is not found at the initial examination, the Coroner will open an investigation or inquest. They will also need to do this if the deceased died in custody or otherwise in the care of the State.
Who Authorises postmortem?
10. During the period that the coroner has legal control of the body of the deceased, the coroner is the only person with lawful authority to arrange or permit a PM examination of the body of the deceased.
Are post mortem results public?
Consented post mortem examination results have to be requested from the hospital where the examination took place. Most hospitals will release post mortem results to the immediate next of kin but they are not obliged to do so under the law that applies to medical records.
Where are the Procurator Fiscal offices in Scotland?
There are three SFIU teams in Scotland (north, east and west) which are made up of a number of legal and administrative staff. The SFIU North Team are based in the Procurator Fiscal’s Offices in Dundee, Aberdeen, and Inverness.
Where to report a death to the Procurator Fiscal?
The SFIU East Team is based in the Procurator Fiscal’s Offices in Edinburgh and the SFIU West Team is based in the Procurator Fiscal’s Offices in Glasgow. The death should be reported to the SFIU Team in whose area the significant event leading to the death occurred.
What is the role of the Procurator Fiscal?
Information is available for nearest bereaved relatives in our document The role of the Procurator Fiscal in the investigation of deaths . Procurators Fiscal are qualified lawyers who are employed by COPFS and who act on the instructions of the Lord Advocate.
Who is responsible for reporting deaths in Scotland?
SFIU has responsibility for receiving reports of deaths occurring in Scotland which are sudden, suspicious, accidental or unexplained and fall within the categories set out at part 3 below and deaths which give rise to public anxiety.