RESOURCES

Ministry of Justice

Victims and Witnesses of Crime and Violence

CORONERS SERVICE

In situations of victimization where a death occurs, victims and their family members may be involved with the BC Coroner’s Service.

The Coroners Service is responsible for the investigation of all unnatural, sudden, and unexpected, unexplained, or unattended deaths. Notification of a death generally comes from police, hospitals, or physicians; however anyone can and should report a death under these circumstances. The Coroners Service ascertains the facts surrounding a death in accordance with the Coroners Act. The coroner must determine the identity of the deceased and how, when, where and by what means they died for the public record.

The circumstances of each death determine what will happen next. If the death occurs outside of a medical facility the deceased is taken to a hospital morgue. If circumstances indicate that the death is due to a natural disease process, the Coroner will contact the personal physician about the medical history of the deceased. If it is confirmed that the death is consistent with a natural disease process, the responsibility for completing the medical death certificate remains with the physician.

If the medical cause of death cannot be determined the Coroner may order an autopsy to determine the cause. An autopsy is done in a hospital by a qualified pathologist and will be concluded as quickly as possible. The autopsy will be important to you and your family as it may help answer questions about hereditary aspects of disease. During this process, the pathologist may collect specimens for toxicological and microscopic analysis. Once the autopsy is complete, the Coroner will advise the family so they may proceed with funeral arrangements and, unless there are special circumstances, the Coroner will advise next of kin of the autopsy findings. The Coroners Service makes every effort to accommodate the religious or cultural practices of the deceased and the family within its obligation to investigate.

For more information see British Columbia Coroners Service website.