The Coroner will decide if a post mortem examination will be necessary if:
A post mortem (or autopsy) is a special medical examination of a body carried out by a pathologist to find out the cause of death. A pathologist is a doctor who is trained to identify whether a violent event may have occurred, or whether there is disease in the organs and tissues of the deceased. They are usually carried out in the nearest major university hospitals or at the State Pathologists facility in Dublin.
In some cases, organs may need to be kept for further examination. If this happens, the next-of-kin will be informed as soon as possible. The Coroner will make arrangements for organs to be returned to the family, should they wish, for burial or cremation once the examination is finished.
A post mortem report usually takes between 4 and 6 months to be received by the Coroner’s office depending on the time taken for specialised tests (including toxicology) to be completed.
If there is a criminal investigation, it may be necessary to have a second post mortem examination or further investigations. The release of the body and the funeral arrangements may be delayed as a result.
If the deceased has indicated an intention to be an organ donor, and their death is reportable to the Coroner, the Coroner will make a quick decision about whether a post-mortem is needed. The Coroner will take the wishes of the deceased into account. However, if a post mortem is necessary it may not be possible to allow organ donation.
COVID-19 is a natural cause of death due to infection. In any death reported to a coroner where the cause of death is due to COVID-19 infection, and no other circumstances arise, there is no need for a coroner’s post mortem. The treating doctor of the deceased will issue the death notification documentation so that the family can register the death.
In the rare cases where other circumstances emerge in relation to a person who had been diagnosed with COVID-19 (such as accidental death, self- inflicted death or suspicious death) a post mortem must be performed by law.