Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 May 2004
74 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans he has to deal with the inordinate delays which cause great emotional distress in obtaining a death certificate following a post-mortem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15416/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe administration of the registration system is statutorily a matter for an tArd-Chláraitheoir or Registrar-General of births, deaths and marriages and for registrars who operate under his general direction.
When a person dies it is the duty of the nearest relative present at death or in attendance at the last illness to act as qualified informant. This means that the nearest relative must give to the registrar the information necessary to register the death, including a medical certificate of cause of death, and sign the register. However, in this instance I presume the Deputy is referring to deaths which have been referred to a coroner. There is a legal responsibility on doctors, registrars of births and deaths, undertakers, gardaí, hospitals and homes to inform the coroner where a death occurs suddenly or unexpectedly or from a cause unknown, unclear or unnatural or where the deceased was not seen or treated by a registered medical practitioner within one month prior to death.
In such cases, the coroner may request a post-mortem examination. If the post-mortem shows that a death was due to natural causes, the coroner may issue a certificate to the registrar who can then proceed to register the death and issue a death certificate. If the post-mortem shows that a death was due to unnatural causes, an inquest must be held. In such cases, the registrar must await the outcome of the inquest and the issue by the coroner of a coroner's certificate.
The Deputy will appreciate that the carrying out of the statutory procedures outlined often involves detailed examination of complex medical and legal matters that may take time to resolve.
