Module 3 The Role of the Coroner
When to Call a Coroner
Every person has a legal responsibility to report deaths to a Coroner that fall under Sections 7 to 10 of The Coroners Act, 1999. Sections 7 to 10 of the Act states:
7(1) Every person shall immediately notify a coroner or a peace officer of any death that the persons knows or has reason to believe: (a) Occurred as a result of an accident or violence or was self-inflicted; (b) Occurred from a cause other than disease or sickness; (c) Occurred as a result of negligence, misconduct or malpractice on the part of others; (d) Occurred suddenly and unexpectedly when the deceased appeared to be in good health; ( Deaths that occurred suddenly and unexpectedly when the deceased appeared to be in good health typically include, but are not limited to, deaths where the deceased had no pre-existing medical history) (e) Occurred in Saskatchewan under circumstances in which the body is not available because: (i) The body or part of the body has been destroyed; (ii) The body is in a place from which it cannot be recovered; or (iii) The body cannot be located; (f) Was a stillbirth that occurred without the presence of a duly qualified medical practitioner; (g) Occurred as a direct or immediate consequence of the deceased being engaged in employment, an occupation or a business; or (h) Occurred under circumstances that require investigation. (2) Every peace officer who is notified of a death pursuant to subsection (1) shall immediately notify a coroner of the death. 8(1) Where an inmate of a jail, military guardroom, remand center, penitentiary, lock-up or place where the person is held under a warrant of a judge or a correctional facility as defined in The Correctional Services Act, 2012 dies, the person in charge of that place shall immediately notify a coroner of the death. (2) Where a person dies while in a custody facility as defined in The Youth Justice Administration Act, the person in charge of that facility shall immediately notify a coroner of the death. (3) Where a minor dies while a resident of a foster home, group home or place of safety within the meaning of The Child and Family Services Act, the person in charge of that place shall immediately notify a coroner of the death. (4) Where an involuntary patient admitted pursuant to section 23 or 24, or detained pursuant to section 24.1, of The Mental Health Services Act to an inpatient facility within the meaning of that Act dies, the person in charge of that facility shall immediately notify a coroner of the death. (5) The duty mentioned in this section applies whether or not: (a) the person died on the premises or in actual custody; or (b) the person was an inmate, resident or patient at the time of death if the death was caused at that place. (6) Where a person dies while in a hospital to which the person was transferred from a place mentioned in this section, the person in charge of the hospital shall immediately notify the coroner of the death.