When Someone Dies.

[Tilly2]

Could some one please tell me about post mortems, inquests, coroners reports and so on. I don't understand what happens when someone dies suddenly after having been discharged from hospital.

I don't understand the jargon.

[EDDIE51]

From what you say the person was ill and in hospital but recovered enough to be discharged. Then they had a relaps and were readmitted but this time the illness was worse and it killed them. Could have been any one of lots of conditions but heart problems sound the most likedly. As said 'natural causes' means it was an illness and not anything suspicious.

[DaisyNonna]

Tilly. I understand. Natural Causes means absolutely nothing.

[naomi24]

^... except a body worn out by old age.

[EDDIE51]

Inquests and coroners reports are only needed where the death may have been someting other than 'natural causes'.

[Tilly2]

Thank you all for your answers. Time for bed for me. I will try to be more specific next time I ask. At the moment, I find it really puzzling how someone, who has been really poorly for the last year, has died from, seemingly 'benign', natural causes.

[naomi24]

Tilly, was she elderly? If she has been poorly for a while, could it have been simply age?

[237SJ]

naomi - she was 61

[Jeza]

Eddie, Hypothetically speaking if you got pi$$ed then got in the bath passed out and subsequently drowned is that natural causes?

[grasscarp]

All it means is it was not the unnatural causes I listed. Death is natural for all of us and strokes, heart attack etc are all usual and natural causes.

[pixie373]

Natural causes is used for "unexplained". It isn't classed as a sudden death if a GP has seen her during the previous two weeks (presumably in hospital). So whether more specific information is required, depends on age and the likelihood of, um, something suspicious. Otherwise, they are likely to leave it as that.

[EDDIE51]

^^ it would be a lot more puzzling if someone who was in full good health suddenly died. In this case it looks like whatever made her 'poorly' has finally finished her off. What form of illness was it that made her 'poorly'

[naomi24]

237SJ, thank you. 61 is not old. I wonder why she's been ill for some time?

[gness]

Is that always the case, Pixie.....MrG died in hospital after years of illness but there had to be a post mortem and inquest because it was a sudden and unexpected death....well to the medics anyway.....

[pixie373]

You don't need to be old to die of natural causes.

[pixie373]

Yes- "sudden death" is if a doctor hasn't seen them in the previous two weeks and always is investigated. Others may be, depending on the circumstances- if neglect, medication, etc etc are suspected. The younger someone is, the more likely they are to look for the cause.

[EDDIE51]

Jesa if some one was found drowned in the bath with no other information that would be classed as suspicious. Someone could have held them down to drown for example. Death from getting so p**sed that they drowned in the bath would not be 'natural causes' as it is not from an illness or medical condition. I think that would be 'misadventure' or 'accident'. There would be an inquest in the case you describe.

[Jeza]

Thanks Eddie. That explains a lot.

[campbellking]

Tilly, the gov.uk site is quite useful for explaining what happens after death (fairly simple language). Working in ITU, quite a few of our deaths get referred to the coroner, generally when they have died within 24 hours of admission if they have no defined previous medical condition, there is no obvious cause of death, they have died within 24 hours of surgery (if they haven't found obvious secondaries), or the cause of their death is suspicious/result of an accident. The doctor who fills in the death certificate will often ring the coroner for clarification if there is uncertainty whether he should refer or not.
Given that your relative had been unwell for some time, despite her young age, it is unlikely that it was felt a post mortem was necessary.

[Tilly2]

Thank you to everyone who responded to this query. I think I now understand what is meant by 'natural causes.'

[tonyav]

Sorry for your loss, Tilly.