Fresh Inquest into Death by Suicide Following Cessation of Benefits is Granted – QMLR

‘This case concerned Ms Whiting, who had a history of spinal conditions, mental health problems, and suicidal ideation. In September 2016, Ms Whiting needed a reassessment for her ESA benefit allowance. She requested a home visit due to her mobility problems and anxiety. The DWP failed to action this, and required her to attend an appointment in person. Ms Whiting was unable to do so, at that time being housebound with pneumonia.’

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QMLR, 18th July 2023

Source: 1corqmlr.com

The Supreme Court provides authoritative guidance on the application of Article 2 to Coronial investigations and inquests – QMLR

‘The advent of the Human Rights Act 1998, and the incorporation into domestic law of the Article 2 right to life, has transformed coronial investigations and inquests over the last two decades. Lord Bingham’s magisterial creation of the ‘enhanced’ investigation and conclusion in R (Middleton) v West Somerset Coroner [2004] UKHL 10, [2004] 2 AC 182 (later adopted by Parliament) gave coroners greater responsibility to hold the state to account for deaths. That, in turn, has significantly improved the ways in which all inquests are conducted, not just those where Article 2 is found to be engaged. Inquests are no longer haphazard affairs. They are (ordinarily) carefully planned and structured processes; and their participants, the ‘interested persons’, are far more involved in assisting coroners with the task of identifying the proper scope of their investigations and the lawful ambit of their conclusions.’

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QMLR, 18th July 2023

Source: 1corqmlr.com

Guide to Judicial Conduct – Revised July 2023 – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted July 27th, 2023 in coroners, judiciary, magistrates, news, professional conduct, tribunals by sally

‘This Guide is intended to assist judges, tribunal members, coroners and magistrates, in relation to their conduct.’

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Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 27th July 2023

Source: www.judiciary.uk

NHS trust accused of cover-up is refusing to release report into deaths – The Guardian

‘An ambulance trust accused of hiding information from a coroner about patients that died is keeping a damning internal report about the deaths secret, the Guardian can reveal. A consultant paramedic implicated in the alleged cover-ups continues to be involved in decisions to keep the report from the public.’

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The Guardian, 24th July 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

R (on the application of Maguire) v HM Senior Coroner for Blackpool & Fylde and another – Inquests and Inquiries Law Blog

‘In this post, Alex Carington considers the Supreme Court’s decision in an appeal by the family of the Deceased who sought to challenge the Coroner’s decision that Art. 2 of the Human Rights Act 1998 did not require an expanded conclusion having heard all of the evidence at the inquest such that the jury were requested to return a short form conclusion only. The appeal also raised issues about the boundary of the systems duty and operational duty (and the content of both) as well as the boundary between the enhanced procedural obligation on one hand and basic procedural obligation together with the redress procedural obligation on the other.’

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Inquests and Inquiries Law Blog, 18th July 2023

Source: inquestsandinquirieslawblog.com

Case Note on the Supreme Court case of R (Maguire) v The Coroner for Blackpool & Fylde [2023] UKSC 20 – 2 Hare Court

‘The long running case of Maguire has finally been concluded in a Supreme Court judgment handed down last week. The bottom line is and remains that the threshold for Article 2 remains high in cases involving health and social care. The case is particularly helpful for its detailed and comprehensive analysis of the authorities and the relevant legal principles in relation to the application of Article 2 and is a must read for those practising in the coronial area.’

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2 Hare Court, 30th June 2023

Source: www.2harecourt.com

Coroner criticises Betfair for failing to act before man’s suicide – The Guardian

Posted July 3rd, 2023 in coroners, duty of care, gambling, mental health, news, suicide by tracey

‘A coroner has criticised a betting operator for failing to intervene over a high volume of bets made by a problem gambler before he took his own life, the first verdict of its kind.’

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The Guardian, 29th June 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Nicola Bulley’s death was an accident, coroner rules – BBC News

Posted June 28th, 2023 in accidents, coroners, families, inquests, internet, news, suicide by sally

‘Nicola Bulley’s death was accidental and she did not have “any desire” to take her own life, a coroner concluded.’

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BBC News, 27th June 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

The Supreme Court Provides Authoritative Guidance on the Application of Article 2 to Coronial Investigations and Inquests – UK Human Rights Blog

‘The advent of the Human Rights Act 1998, and the incorporation into domestic law of the Article 2 right to life, has transformed coronial investigations and inquests over the last two decades. Lord Bingham’s magisterial creation of the “enhanced” investigation and conclusion in R (Middleton) v West Somerset Coroner [2004] UKHL 10, [2004] 2 AC 182 (later adopted by Parliament) gave coroners greater responsibility to hold the state to account for deaths. That, in turn, has significantly improved the ways in which all inquests are conducted, not just those where Article 2 is found to be engaged. Inquests are no longer haphazard affairs. They are (ordinarily) carefully planned and structured processes; and their participants, the “interested persons”, are far more involved in assisting coroners with the task of identifying the proper scope of their investigations and the lawful ambit of their conclusions.’

Full Story

UK Human Rights Blog, 28th June 2023

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Protein drinks should carry warning after boy died, says coroner – BBC News

Posted June 28th, 2023 in children, coroners, food, health, health & safety, labelling, news by sally

‘Health warnings should be added to protein drinks after a boy died from a rare genetic disease triggered by drinking one, a senior coroner says.’

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BBC News, 27th June 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Bell v HM Coroner for South Yorkshire (Eastern District) – Inquests and Inquiries Law Blog

Posted May 17th, 2023 in chambers articles, coroners, inquests, mental health, news, suicide by sally

‘In this post, Alex Carington considers a recent unsuccessful application under s. 13 of the Coroner’s Act 1988 in light of new evidence to quash an inquest in 1992 into the death of a woman who stepped into the path of an oncoming train where an open verdict was reached.’

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Inquests and Inquiries Law Blog, 16th May 2023

Source: inquestsandinquirieslawblog.com

MOD will not change ceremonial dagger gifting rule after murders – BBC News

‘The Ministry of Defence will not change its rules allowing those leaving the military to be gifted knives. It comes after veteran Collin Reeves murdered his neighbours Stephen and Jennifer Chapple using a dagger.’

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BBC News, 11th May 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Dove v Assistant Coroner for Teeside [2023] EWCA Civ 289 (17 March 2023) – Parklane Plowden

‘Mrs Dove’s daughter took her own life after DWP benefits were withdrawn. In September 2021, the Divisional Court refused her application under s13 of the Coroners Act 1988 to quash the Coroner’s determination and direct a new inquest. The Divisional Court considered that the question of ‘how’ someone died in a Jamieson inquest was directed only to the means by which the deceased died, and did not encompass the wider circumstances of their death. In this case, the Court of Appeal considered the meaning of ‘by what means’.’

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Parklane Plowden Chambers, 29th March 2023

Source: www.parklaneplowden.co.uk

Case comment: Dove v HM Assistant Coroner for Teesside and Hartlepool [2023] EWCA Civ 289 – Inquests and Inquiries Law Blog

Posted March 30th, 2023 in benefits, causation, coroners, human rights, inquests, news, suicide by sally

’12KBW pupil Corinne Novell gives an update on this case and the outcome of the Court of Appeal hearing, in which challenges were brought with regard to Article 2 and seeking a fresh inquest.’

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Inquests and Inquiries Law Blog, 29th March 2023

Source: inquestsandinquirieslawblog.com

Betsi Cadwaladr: Critical report issued following patient death – BBC News

Posted March 27th, 2023 in coroners, hospitals, inquests, mental health, news, suicide, Wales by tracey

‘A critical report has been issued to a health board amid concerns it did not address failings after a patient died.’

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BBC News, 25th March 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Speech by the Chief Coroner: Death in Custody Symposium – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted March 17th, 2023 in coroners, death in custody, prisons, speeches, statutory duty by tracey

‘Speech by the Chief Coroner: Death in Custody Symposium.’

Full speech

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 14th March 2023

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Stop giving daggers to retiring soldiers, says coroner after Somerset murders – The Guardian

Posted March 9th, 2023 in armed forces, coroners, murder, news, offensive weapons, retirement by sally

‘A senior coroner has called on the British military to stop handing out ceremonial daggers to retiring service personnel after hearing how a couple were stabbed to death by a former soldier using one.’

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The Guardian, 8th March 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Chief Coroner shares the report from the first ever Coroner Attitude Survey and explains how it has shaped his work – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted March 2nd, 2023 in consultations, coroners, news, reports by tracey

‘The Chief Coroner, His Honour Judge Thomas Teague KC, is nearing the end of his tour around all 83 coroner areas in England and Wales. He started the tour shortly after COVID-19 restrictions were lifted, with the aim of supporting the welfare of coroners and staff in the wake of the pandemic. The tour has taken just over a year to complete, with the final visits scheduled for later this month (March 2023). The visits have given the Chief Coroner a unique insight into the local provision made for the coroner service around the country and have afforded him the opportunity to discuss with coroners, staff, local authorities and police forces, many of the issues raised in the Coroner Attitude Survey (published below).’

Full survey

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Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 1st March 2023

Source: www.judiciary.uk

Depth of NHS crisis is revealed by coroners’ courts reports – The Guardian

Posted February 27th, 2023 in coroners, delay, hospitals, inquests, news by sally

‘NHS waiting times, staff shortages and service backlogs have been flagged as concerns in relation to dozens of patient deaths across England and Wales since the start of last year, the Observer can reveal, with coroners facing a succession of inquests concerning ambulance delays.’

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The Guardian, 26th February 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Government to review damp and mould guidance following death of Awaab Ishak – Local Government Lawyer

Posted January 17th, 2023 in children, coroners, health & safety, housing, inquests, news, reports by sally

‘The Government has announced plans to review guidance to landlords on damp and mould, after a coroner asked the government to take action to prevent future deaths.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 16th January 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk