Commenting on the news that Essex Coroner’s Service has withdrawn its demand for GPs to verify deaths in person during the pandemic, Dr Rob Hendry, Medical Director at the Medical Protection Society, said:

“We welcome this decision and feel it is a pragmatic outcome. Coronial investigations are a central pillar of this country’s justice system, yet there are considerable variations between the practices and policies of regional coroner services across the country. The proposed policy in this case, which may have resulted in further risk to doctors and stress for bereaved families, highlights the need for greater consistency. When the Covid-19 crisis subsides, and there is time to reflect, we urge the Government to give careful consideration to how this can be achieved.” 

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Notes to editors

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About Medical Protection

Medical Protection is a trading name of The Medical Protection Society Limited (“MPS”). MPS is the world’s leading protection organisation for doctors, dentists and healthcare professionals. We protect and support the professional interests of more than 300,000 members around the world. Membership provides access to expert advice and support and can also provide, depending on the type of membership required, the right to request indemnity for any complaints or claims arising

from professional practice.

Our in-house experts assist with the wide range of legal and ethical problems that arise from professional practice. This can include clinical negligence claims, complaints, medical and dental council inquiries, legal and ethical dilemmas, disciplinary procedures, inquests and fatal accident inquiries.

Our philosophy is to support safe practice in medicine and dentistry by helping to avert problems in the first place. We do this by promoting risk management through our workshops, E-learning, clinical risk assessments, publications, conferences, lectures and presentations.