Overview
Medical Examiners (MEs) are senior doctors who verify clinical information on Medical Certificates of Cause of Death (MCCDs), to ensure appropriate referrals to the Coroner and accuracy and consistency of MCCD content. They are responsible for the scrutiny of the documentation and circumstances arising from non-coronial deaths in England and Wales. MEs will take a consistent approach to the formulation of MCCD content, which must be clinically accurate and reflect any discussions with the next of kin/informant. MEs must not have been involved in the care of the deceased patients for deaths they scrutinise. MEs and their Officers also are required to ensure that the bereaved have an opportunity to raise concerns about the care of the deceased so that these are recognised and passed to the clinical team or the relevant clinical governance team.
Responsibilities
* To work within the team of Medical Examiners and Medical Examiner Officers to deliver timely and appropriate scrutiny of deaths within the catchment area of the Medical Examiners' Office.
* To ensure compliance with the legal and procedural requirements associated with the reformed processes of certification, investigation by coroners and registration of deaths.
* To scrutinise the certified causes of death offered by attending doctors in a way that is proportionate, consistent and compliant with the proposed changes in national guidance.
* To discuss and explain the cause of death with next of kin/informants in a transparent, tactful and sympathetic manner. It is anticipated that such discussions will be predominately conducted through telephone conversations where barriers to understanding information may exist.
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