Author: Bridget Dolan QC

Posts by Bridget Dolan QC

Admitted failings in Article 2 inquests needn’t be part of the Coroner’s conclusion

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R (Carole Smith) v HM Assistant Coroner for North West Wales [2020] EWHC 781 (Admin) The High Court has emphatically supported a Coroner’s decision not to record admitted, non-causative failings in an Article 2 inquest conclusion. The court’s observations about the proper content of a Record of Inquest (ROI) will be thought-provoking for all Coroners […]

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Remote Verification of Community Deaths During the Covid-19 Pandemic: Should family members be relied upon?

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The steep increase in the number of deaths occurring outside hospital during the Covid-19 pandemic brings a concomitant rise in the number of deaths requiring verification in the community. Attending those who have died in the community clearly puts health care workers at increased risk of Covid-19 infection themselves.  In response the NHS has put out guidance […]

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Gambling addiction to be recorded in suicide conclusions?

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The Bishop of St Albans, Dr Alan Smith has introduced a Bill aimed at using the coronial system to record where gambling addiction has contributed to suicide. If the Coroners (Determination of Suicide) Bill [HL] (HL Bill 32) is passed, then where the inquest’s conclusion is suicide, the coroner or jury will be required to […]

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