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Coroners Act 1997
23Consideration of immediate family
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23 Consideration of immediate family
(1) A coroner holding an inquest into a death (other than a death in care
or death in custody) may, if requested to do so by a member of the
immediate family of the deceased or a representative of that person,
authorise—
(a) the viewing of the body of the deceased by the member or a
(b) an inspection of the scene of the death by the member or a
(c) an inspection of the scene of an event which, in the opinion of
the coroner, may have resulted in the death of the person; or
(d) the member or a representative of that member to be present at
any post-mortem examination conducted on the body; or
(e) the same or another doctor to conduct a further post-mortem
examination on the body.
(2) If a coroner refuses to give an authorisation under subsection (1) on
the ground that the coroner believes that it would not be in the public
interest or the interests of justice to do so, the coroner must give to
the person who made the request written notice of the refusal and an
explanation for the refusal.
(3) A notice under subsection (2) must include a statement that the person
who made the request may apply to the Chief Coroner requesting that
the coroner who made the decision reconsider the decision.