What to do when a friend or family member dies?
This depends on where the person has died and the manner of death. Feel free to call us at anytime and we will advise you what do do. We are available 24 hours.
When death occurs at a hospital, hospice or rest-home, the nursing staff will arrange for a doctor to visit and certify death.
If the death has occurred at home, you will need to call a doctor to certify death. If you have any difficulties, please phone us and we will arrange this for you.
Do you need to involve a Coroner?
The Coroner is a legal officer appointed under the Coroners Act who has the duty to establish the cause of death in certain circumstances. The Coroner and the police may become involved when:
- A doctor is unavailable or unable to establish the cause of death
- There is a sudden unexpected death
- Death occurs from other than natural causes
- There is an accidental death
- There has been no recent consultation with a medical practitioner.
In these cases it is important that the deceased is not moved or disturbed in any way without the permission of the Coroner.
Please phone us as soon as you wish for any assistance in this regard, and remember that it is the family’s right to choose their own funeral director once the Coroner’s duties are completed. You are not obliged to use the funeral services of the funeral firm engaged by the police to take the deceased to the hospital.