Embedded Files
information. · If an expected death occurs in a private home, contact the local GP or out-of-hours GP service. · For an unexpected death, paramedics and advanced paramedics registered with the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC) are trained to verify deaths. During the pandemic, when paramedics attend the scene of a death they are not required to call a registered medical practitioner to pronounce death, as a member of An Garda Síochána can accept, on behalf of the coroner, a duly completed and signed PHECC Verification of Death Record Form as evidence of the pronouncement of death. Assessment of the circumstances surrounding a death, if relevant, remains the responsibility of An Garda Síochána. 6. Completion of a death notification form A registered medical practitioner should complete a death notification form according to local protocol unless the coroner is proceeding with further investigation. In this case the coroner’s office will issue the death notification form. 7. Involvement of the Coroner All confirmed or possible COVID-19 related deaths must be reported to the District Coroner. They are, however, considered to be natural deaths for which the cause of death is known or can be established easily, meaning that there is no legal requirement for a postmortem examination. Coroners Society of Ireland guidance which seeks to minimise the need for post-mortem examinations and post-mortem swabbing is available %20Service%20Guidance%20C ovid-19%20Version%206%20FINAL%20190420.pdf. 11 7.1 When to report a death to the coroner In addition to the usual reasons for reporting a death to a coroner, deaths which occur in the following circumstances related to COVID-19 must also be reported: · A person with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 dies. · A person with suspected or possible COVID-19 dies. · A person dies in hospital from respiratory failure or adult respiratory distress syndrome before COVID-19 investigation can take place. · A person dies in a nursing home, community hospital or other congregated residential setting which has experienced an outbreak of COVID-19 but the person was not tested for the virus before they died. · A person dies in a nursing home, community hospital, private home or other place having been tested for COVID-19 before they died, but the results are not yet available. For more detailed guidance see %20Version%206%20FINAL%20190420.pdf/Files/Coroners%20Service%20Guidance%20C ovid-19%20Version%206%20FINAL%20190420.pdf. 7.2 Reporting a death to a coroner during the pandemic A registered medical practitioner pronouncing death is a necessary and integral part of the coroner’s inquiry and its legal safeguards. In certain circumstances during the COVID-19 pandemic, however, coroners will accept pronouncement of death by other competent, trained healthcare professionals. See section 5 for more information. 7.3 Formal identification of the deceased person if a coroner’s post-mortem is required The identity of the deceased person must be established positively before a coroner’s postmortem can take place. The coroner directs the identification process. Consult your local coroner’s office about specific requirements. 7.4 Coroner’s post-mortem In most cases, if a clinical assessment of COVID-19 can be made, there is no need for postmortem examination or post-mortem swabbing. Post-mortem examinations are still needed, however, in certain circumstances, such as when the cause of death is not known, for trauma-related deaths and suspicious deaths. If the deceased person tests positive for 12 COVID-19, the local coroner will determine in which mortuary the post-mortem will take place. Coroners aim to avoid invasive post-mortems whenever possible, with options such as critical review of medical notes, external examination, toxicology and/or post-mortem imaging being used instead. In some cases, following discussion with the relevant coroner, a modified examination may be possible. Guidance on such post-mortem examinations is available from the Royal College of Physicians in Ireland at.amazonaws.com/wp-content/ AutopsyGuidelines-during-Covid-19-Pandemic.pdf. If the coroner requests a post-mortem COVID-19 swab, the GP or public health team should inform the deceased person’s close contacts as soon as possible, so that they can self-isolate until they are informed of the results. If the swab is positive, the coroner will inform the public health service about the diagnosis so that contact tracing can begin. This information should form part of the standard discharge letter to the deceased person’s GP. Post-mortem examinations are often a distressing and sensitive issue for the relatives and friends of the deceased person. Guidance on how best to discuss this issue form part of the Irish Hospice Foundation’s “Toolkit for Compassionate End-of-Life Care”. See section 11 for more information. 8. Funeral directors Standard procedures and practice apply unless the deceased person was considered to be an infection risk for COVID-19 at the time of death. Any infection prevention and control (IPC) precautions in place while the person was alive should remain after the person has died. The period of infectivity is up to 14 days after
Report abuse