Since September 9, 2024, all deaths in England and Wales that are not investigated by a coroner require review by a medical examiner before the death can be registered.
What Is a Medical Examiner?
A medical examiner is a senior doctor who provides independent scrutiny of the cause of death. They will not have been involved in the care of the person who died.
The system was introduced to:
- Provide greater safeguards for the public by ensuring proper scrutiny of all non-coronial deaths
- Ensure the appropriate direction of deaths to the coroner when needed
- Provide a better service for bereaved families and an opportunity to raise any concerns
- Improve the quality of death certification
- Improve the quality of mortality data
What Happens?
1. The Doctor Completes the Death Certificate
The doctor (attending practitioner) who cared for the deceased completes a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD).
2. Independent Review
A senior independent doctor reviews the proposed cause of death to ensure it’s accurate. They may discuss this with the doctor who completed the certificate.
3. Contact with the Family
The reviewing office (or an officer working on their behalf) will contact you to:
- Discuss the cause of death
- Answer any questions you may have
- Give you the opportunity to raise any concerns
4. Certificate Sent to Registrar
Once the review is complete and the cause of death is confirmed, the MCCD is sent directly to the registrar.
You’ll be notified that you can now register the death.
How Long Does This Take?
The review aims to be completed within three days of being notified of the death.
The process should not cause significant delay to registration, unless the death needs to be referred to the coroner as a result.
Will This Cost Me Anything?
There is no cost for this service.
What If There Are Concerns?
If the reviewing doctor is unable to confirm the cause of death, or if they identify something that suggests the coroner should be involved, they will refer the case to the coroner.
In this situation, you cannot register the death until the coroner completes their investigation.
More about Coroner procedures →
Registration Timeline
Important: You cannot register the death until the review is complete and the certificate has been sent to the registrar.
The statutory 5-day registration deadline begins when the registrar receives the certificate, not from the date of death itself.
Further Information
For more detailed information about the system: