An Inquest

I was roped into attending an inquest whilst away at nights.

Its a strange thing - in my mind the case was pretty straight forward: a traumatic subdural haemorrhage, which despite drainage recurred and was complicated by pneumonia. This is something that I would have discussed with the coroner's officer, and provided a death certificate.

But for some reason - either due to the reasoning of my colleagues who were writing the death certificate or because the coroner and his deputy are rather fastidious (or maybe have a little too much time on their hands) - this case went to inquest.

Which is fine, as it was a great experience. But I had to raise my eyebrows a couple of times.

Firstly, evidence at an inquest is normally provided by a consultant. Although my registrar was present and available (in fact she came along for moral support), I was asked to attend - which surprised my other consultant and registrar (did they think me incapable?). My mother thinks this was because the consultant has great faith in me. I believe it is because he was feeling lazy or had the pressure of clinics. I wonder which of us is correct (I secretly hope its my mother).

Secondly, its a court. A real court! Yes, I know I was attending the inquest at the Coroner's Court, but for some reason, thought it was simply a title and nothing more. And was therefore expecting a room with a few tables, not the whole raised dais shebang.

Thirdly, I had to swear in! Like on the telly! Yes, I was finding the whole thing a little surreal.

Fourthly, although I was not worried about it - after all, to me it was a straight forward case - on entering the room, I became a little apprehensive. But it was fine. The deputy coroner was pleasant and despite being a lawyer by training had had extensive medical experience and he explained translated the jargon for the benefit of the family.

We'd been expecting the family to voice complaints - one member had even taken it upon herself to sit by the deceased to monitor the amount of nursing attention he was receiving. And they had also been given unrealistic expectations by a different team.

But not a word of complaint. Maybe they've complained independently. Maybe they have decided not to complain - after all - their loved one is dead, so what difference does it make.

In this case I don't believe that they had a good case for complaints, but there are some times when one wishes families would complain so that things would change. But its most often the unreasonable family with an equally ridiculous complaint that makes the newspapers.

So. Now I've been for an inquest. Whats next?