From April 2019 a network of medical examiners will be introduced across England and Wales. Medical examiners will ensure accurate death certification, ensure the correct cases are referred to the Coroner, provide much-needed support for bereaved families and improve patient safety.
The College is the lead medical royal college for medical examiners with responsibility for training but medical examiners will be senior doctors from any specialty. Any doctor wishing to work as a medical examiner will need to complete 26 core e-learning modules then attend face-to-face training.
The College held the first face-to-face training session earlier this month. Many of the delegates are already working as medical examiners at pilot or early adopter sites.
The day focussed on small group sessions, working through challenging scenarios such as looking at unnatural deaths following surgery, infections, fractures, possible industrial disease and refusal of medical intervention. Other scenarios discussions related to interactions with the bereaved, including faith considerations, the death of a child and objections to the cause of death. Short talks from speakers included the importance of putting the bereaved at the centre of medical examiners’ work, particularly the need to avoid delays to dealing with the paperwork required for burial.
There was lots of lively discussion and feedback from delegates, which will be used to improve future face-to-face training sessions. Training days are being held in Peterborough, Cardiff, Leeds and London over the next few months; please see conferences for booking details.
More information about medical examiners.
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