21Inquests concerning deaths or suspected deaths

21 Inquests concerning deaths or suspected deaths

21 Inquests concerning deaths or suspected deaths

(cf Coroners Act 1980, s 13)

(1) A coroner has jurisdiction to hold an inquest concerning the death or suspected death of a person if it appears to the coroner that—

(a) the person’s death is (or there is reasonable cause to suspect that the person’s death is) a reportable death, or

(b) a medical practitioner has not given (or there is reasonable cause to suspect that a medical practitioner has not given) a certificate as to the cause of death.

(2) The reference to a medical practitioner in subsection (1)(b) includes, if it appears to the coroner that the death or suspected death occurred at a place outside the State, a reference to a person entitled under the law in force in that place to issue a certificate as to the cause of death.