Medical Examiner

To ensure compliance with the legal and procedural requirements associated with the current and proposed reformed processes of certification, investigation by coroners and registration of deaths. To scrutinise the medical records of deceased patients and certified causes of death offered by doctors in a way that is proportionate, consistent, and compliant with the national protocol. To discuss and explain the cause of death with next of kin/informants in a transparent, tactful and sympathetic manner. It is anticipated that such discussions will be predominately conducted through telephone conversations where barriers to understanding information may exist. To ensure that all users of the ME system are treated with respect and are not discriminated against on the grounds of sex, race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender reassignment or disability. To participate in and inform relevant clinical governance activities relating to death certification including audits, mortality review processes, benchmarking exercises, and investigations regarding formal complaints about patient care. To support the training of junior doctors in their understanding of death certification and promote good practice in accurate completion of MCCDs. To work with the Lead Medical Examiner Officer and Medical Examiner Officers (MEOs), delegating duties as appropriate. To engage with Lead ME and Lead MEO for the region. To adopt a collaborative working relationship with other MEs by sharing experiences and expertise to support peer learning and set uniform standards of service delivery. To engage with and participate in Continuous Professional Development for the ME Service and to contribute to internal departmental governance and audit activity. To participate in the Medical Examiner weekend and bank holiday daytime on-call rota to provide an out-of-hours service for cases requiring urgent ME input. There is an expectation that individuals demonstrate flexibility to fill rota gaps at any site across the service when these arise. There is an expectation that scrutiny of both community and hospital deaths will be undertaken. Occasionally, homeworking will be required.