How to become a Coroner

Coroners are medico-legal experts who investigate the cause of deaths and possible responsible parties in case of unnatural or unknown causes, from suspected murder, foul play, or sudden deaths in prison or police custody. They also investigate any deaths in which individuals die alone or without medical attention.

A coroner can visit death scenes, oversee and coordinate with forensic experts, and work with a team of pathologists, toxicologists, investigators, and physicians to find the circumstances of a death. A coroner is also responsible for the dead bodies leaving the morgue.

• Conduct medico-legal and preliminary examinations and autopsies of the body to identify victims, identify signs of trauma, and recognize factors to specify time of death
• Investigate the death cause, way, and conditions to find deceased persons’ identity
• Formulate death certificates, specifying death cause and manner
• Observe and record the body position and condition at the time of death and allied evidence
• Observe, record, and retain any death-related objects or personal property, including items such as drug bottles and suicide notes
• Interview individuals present at death scene to attain valuable details to determine the manner of death
• Contact the family to notify and provide information and circumstances about the death of the deceased
• Complete reports and forms necessary to complete cases
• Collect and document any relevant information regarding medical history
• Assign work to staff for performing autopsies, conducting medical and toxicological tests and preparing permanent record documents
• Collaborate with public health officials and law enforcement agencies to manage interdepartmental activities
• Identify and record information about the next of kin, including the relationship with the deceased and the status of the attempted notification
• Collect recovered personal belongings from bodies such as rings or wallets
• Coordinate the release of unreported bodies and personal belongings to authorized persons and facilitate the disposal
• Coordinate the release of personal effects to authorized persons and facilitate the disposition of unclaimed corpses and personal effects
• Remove or track the removal of bodies from death scenes using necessary equipment and supplies and arrange transport to morgues
• Bear witness to inquiries, hearings and trials
• Collect the wills, burial orders, and other documents required to examine and for manage the remains
• Document the disposition of minor children, as well as descriptions of the care arrangements
• To observe and document deaths arising from a court order
• Determine the cause of death by evaluating all details available
• Speak to other experts concerned, such as the Doctor of the Deceased
• Order post-mortem examination if concerns about the cause of death arise
• Hold a death inquiry if there is a need
• Notifying the death registrar and the results of any investigation
• Write reports and suggestions to prevent deaths in future
• Inspect the body of a deceased person during autopsies to identify marks or other empirical evidence that indicates the cause of death
• Supervise the collection of physical, scientific, and pathological evidence
• Study death reports from physicians and law enforcement agencies.

• The coroner needs to have ample knowledge of anatomy and chemistry to determine the cause of death and background on the Indian Constitution, Laws, and other rules and regulations. This requires them to be physically, mentally, and emotionally fit, as handling death daily may get traumatic.
• They must be comfortable, firm and composed while dealing with individuals, including talking to them during confrontational situations. This also requires them to have sensitivity and empathy. They must also be skilled at interviewing and assertive in case of aggression and hostility.
• Other skills required are problem-solving, judgment, negotiation, decision-making, organisational, and analytical. They also need to be efficient in leadership, team and time management, such as meeting deadlines and prioritising tasks. They need strong written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills as they handle much paperwork.
• The field also demands self-discipline, patience, punctuality, commitment, and determination. To handle things effectively, a lot of hard work, alertness of mind, flexibility, and adaptability are required to work in harsh environments and odd hours. A proactive approach in planning and management is also expected.