Medical Examiner

The statutory death certification reforms, effective since 9th September 2024, require an independent review for all deaths in England and Wales by either a Medical Examiner or a Coroner. The Coroners and Justice Act 2009, amended by the Health and Care Act 2022, underpins this system.

Independent scrutiny by a Medical Examiner is now mandatory before registering any non-coronial death, and the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) must be countersigned by a Medical Examiner.

The reforms allow any doctor who attended the deceased in their lifetime to be an Attending Practitioner (AP) and complete the MCCD, aiming to reduce delays. However, every community death (except clear Coroner referrals) must be referred to the appropriate local Medical Examiner Service before the MCCD can be finalised.

Referrals to the ME should include the standardised referral form (which is available on Ardens/PCIT) and a brief rationale for the cause of death proposed, to minimize the need for any follow-up queries from the ME team back to the attending practitioner. The finalised MCCD must be sent to the Register Office by the Medical Examiner Service.