Update: Death certification reforms and the introduction of medical examiners

The introduction of the statutory medical examiner system will now start in September 2024. The government has confirmed all deaths in any health setting that are not investigated by a coroner will be reviewed by a medical examiner. The changes form part of the death certification reforms. Providers of healthcare services will be required to share records of deceased patients with medical examiner offices.

Regulations introducing changes to the death certification process were laid before Parliament on 15 April 2024 and will come into force on 9 September 2024. The Regulations introduce new medical certificates of cause of death to be used by attending practitioners and medical examiners from September.

Commenting on the new Regulations, Maria Caulfield, Minister for Mental Health and Women’s Health Strategy said:

“The changes will provide greater transparency on the circumstances surrounding a death. Medical examiners will always offer a conversation to the bereaved, providing an opportunity for them to raise questions or concerns with a senior doctor not involved in the care of the deceased.

The introduction of medical examiners is part of a broader set of reforms to death certification, coronial and registration processes which will allow for the efficient flow of information between medical practitioners, medical examiners, coroners and registrars in the new system.”