Ministry of Justice

Bereaved families get right to inspect medical forms in cremations cases

17 December 2008

pot of flowers on a memorial

The right of families to inspect medical forms of a deceased relative completed by doctors before cremation takes place will start on 1 January 2009, Justice Minister Bridget Prentice said.

These measures put in place, for the first time, a system which could help avoid another Shipman-type offence, and replace an outdated and confusing scheme.

The regulations follow recommendations from Dame Janet Smith's inquiry into the Harold Shipman murders. They will enable relatives to draw the medical referee's attention to any concerns about unexpected symptoms or discrepancies in the case.

Justice Minister Bridget Prentice said:

'I am pleased that families whose loved ones have died will be able to raise any concerns they may have about the cause of death.

'The right of families to inspect the medical forms for cremation of their relatives, for the first time in history, is a significant reform.'

There will be a one month transitional period during which both old and new statutory forms may be used.

The new regulations are an interim measure which will be replaced by a new system of death certification, to be introduced by the Department of Health.

Notes to editors

  1. The Cremation (England & Wales) Regulations 2008, forms and guidance for practitioners are available on the Ministry of Justice website.
  2. Dame Janet Smith's Third Shipman Inquiry Report made clear that many of the forms completed by Shipman were wholly inaccurate.
  3. Consultation on the Regulations ended on 22 October 2007 and the response to this was published on 21 May 2008.
  4. The Coroners and Justice Bill combines proposals to modernise the coroner system with Department of Health proposals to establish an independent body of medical examiners to scrutinise the causes of death given by doctors on death certificates in those cases which are not referred to the coroner.
  5. For more information, please contact Ministry of Justice press office on 020 3334 3536.
This page was printed from the Ministry of Justice website. It is subject to © Crown Copyright