Coroner's inquest and mesothelioma
When a person with mesothelioma dies, the doctor who signs the death certificate must inform the coroner, and an inquest has to take place.
What is a coroner?
What is a coroner's inquest?
There may come a time when treatments are no longer working for your family member or friend, and you have to prepare for their death. When a person with mesothelioma dies, the doctor must inform the coroner (the procurator fiscal in Scotland).
The coroner will carry out an inquest. This is a legal investigation into the circumstances surrounding a person’s death.
Why is an inquest needed?
Most deaths from mesothelioma are not natural because they are usually caused by exposure to asbestos.
Will the inquest delay a funeral?
The coroner’s investigations should not normally cause a long delay before a funeral can take place. The coroner will issue a temporary death certificate to allow the funeral to go ahead.
Will a post-mortem be needed?
The coroner will decide if a post-mortem (an examination of the body) is needed. In many cases there is enough medical evidence to confirm the person had mesothelioma. This evidence may come from a biopsy taken when they were diagnosed.
If there is not enough evidence the coroner may decide a post-mortem is needed. This can confirm if death was caused by mesothelioma or something else.
Once the coroner has completed their investigations, the inquest can go ahead. This can take several months. You do not have to go to the inquest if you do not want to. The coroner will give a cause of death and issue a final death certificate.
Existing compensation claims
If your family member or friend was making (or had already made) a compensation claim, the coroner should be told and given the solicitors details. The solicitor should also be told about the death soon after the person dies.
If a solicitor has been instructed to make a compensation claim, you should speak to them before making any decisions about:
- the inquest
- a post-mortem
- tissue samples.
Any decisions about these things may affect the claim, so always speak to the solicitor first.
Getting support
Dealing with these issues as well as the death of your loved one can be upsetting. You may want to get support from your GP, specialist nurse, or a support organisation.
You can call our support line free on 0808 808 00 00 or visit our mesothelioma forum to talk with people who have been affected by mesothelioma, share your experience, and ask an expert your questions.
We also have information on coping with bereavement.
Mesothelioma UK also has more information about a coroner’s inquest in their leaflet, Mesothelioma and the coroner’s role.
About our information
This information has been written, revised and edited by Macmillan Cancer Support’s Cancer Information Development team. It has been reviewed by expert medical and health professionals and people living with cancer.
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References
Below is a sample of the sources used in our mesothelioma cancer information. If you would like more information about the sources we use, please contact us at informationproductionteam@macmillan.org.uk
Kusamura S, Kepenekian V, Villeneuve L, Lurvink RJ, Govaerts K, De Hingh IHJT, Moran BJ, Van der Speeten K, Deraco M, Glehen O; PSOGI. Peritoneal mesothelioma: PSOGI/EURACAN clinical practice guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. Eur J Surg Oncol. 2021 Vol, 47(1) pp6-59. [accessed April 2024].
Popat, S., Baas P., Faivre-Finn, C., Girard, N., Nicholson, A., Nowak, A., Opitz, I., Scherpereel, A, and Reck, M. 2021. ESMO Pleural mesothelioma guidelines. Malignant pleural mesothelioma: ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. Available from: https://www.annalsofoncology.org/action/showPdf [accessed April 2024].
Date reviewed
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The language we use
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