Coroner Inquests: help lifting Interested Person status case study

A GP member sought advice from MDS after being deemed as an ‘interested person’ (IP) for a Coroner’s Inquest. The inquest concerned the unexpected death of a young patient by suicide.

The member was required to provide a written statement ahead of attending court to give evidence. This statement was necessary to detail the consultation with the deceased and address several specific concerns raised by the family.

MDS Advice

Following an in-depth discussion of the clinical case with our medicolegal advisor, it was established that the GP had consulted with the deceased several months before their death.

Consequently, we recommended that our member prepare a detailed and clear response to the family’s questions. This account should be factual, accurate, and based on their usual practice and the contemporaneous records. It should clearly explain the rationale behind the clinical decisions made at the time of the consultation.

The GP was advised to spend time reflecting on the incident and to detail in their statement any learning or resulting practice changes that could prevent similar future occurrences.

Following our guidance, the GP member produced a comprehensive statement that addressed all the family’s concerns and outlined changes across the practice. Upon submission of this statement to the Coroner’s Office, the member’s “interested person” status was revoked, removing the requirement for them to give oral evidence at the Inquest.

Learning Points

• Being named as an ‘interested person’ in a Coroner’s Inquest can be particularly stressful for doctors as it means the Coroner believes your actions or omissions may be relevant in the investigation. Whilst it is not an indication of wrongdoing, it often leads to increased scrutiny and legal representation may be required.
• Always seek advice from your Medical Defence Organisation early if you are named as an interested person in a Coroner’s Inquest. A well-prepared statement is immensely important and can on occasion remove the need to give evidence in person as well as remove the ‘interested person’ status.
• A statement which includes organisational learning or changes can reassure the Coroner and the family that lessons have been learnt and similar incidents will not occur again in the future.

MDS can help

Find yourself in a similar situation? Need help crafting a patient complaint response? Contact MDS as soon as possible to discuss your situation, our team will support you in making the best decision for you and your patients. Call our office on 0300 30 32 442 or email or case managers at [email protected] mentioning your membership number.

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