Medico-Legal Death Investigation Systems – Australia

Australia’s medico-legal death investigation system is overseen by coroners who are independent judicial officers. Deaths reportable to coroners are prescribed in legislation which is broadly similar throughout Australia’s six states and two territories. Coronial investigations are inquisitorial in nature and make important contributions to death prevention and public health. Coroners are assisted in the discharge of their responsibilities by specialist pathologists who form the medical arm of the death investigation process. This paper will outline the current system of medico-legal death investigation throughout Australia with the State of Victoria serving as an exemplar of the system around the country.