Management in general practice

The management of a sudden death should be explained to general practice registrars, as the first time it is managed may be in the middle of the night, when it is more difficult to get advice on what to do.

Management includes:

• history of the illness and examination of the body:
  • the doctor needs to feel confident that the patient has died of natural causes: they may have been murdered
• confirmation of death
• explanation and support for the relatives
• contacting the coronor's officer:
  • out of hours this is usually by contacting the local police station who will send 2 police officers to the house to take statements from the relatives

If a relative is left by themselves with the body, it is only kindness to wait until some support or the police arrive. Once other people have arrived, the doctor may leave, although the police like the doctor to be present if this is possible.

The acting coronor's officer will make arrangements for moving the body.