Coronial investigations

Our aged care and retirement living team has a high level of specialist expertise in acting for acute health care providers and residential aged care providers in relation to deaths which are reportable to the coroner.

When an unexpected or unnatural death occurs our team has the experience and capacity to respond immediately. Our specialist industry experience enables us to ensure that the investigation is conducted efficiently and without compromise to our client’s interests.

As a preventive measure, we can assist our clients by ensuring that they have appropriate and compliant policies and procedures in place and by developing training programs to ensure that staff are aware of their obligations in co-operating with the coroner (or the police on behalf of the coroner) when a unexpected or unnatural death occurs.

Post incident, our team has a depth of experience in advising clients in relation to coronial matters including:

• investigating the events leading up to the death;
• working with the coroner, the police and other statutory authorities who may be conducting simultaneous investigations to ensure our client’s interests are not compromised;
• appearing in coronial inquests;
• developing organisational risk management strategies to prevent future occurrences; and
• developing and implementing incident investigation systems which incorporate procedures to meet the requirements of the Coroners Act.

Contact

Partner                   Julie McStay