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Public Administration & LegalISCO 2619

Coroner

A coroner is a person who oversees the examination of the dead in order to establish the cause of death in exceptional circumstances, for example when a death is sudden, violent or unexplained.

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Rate 5 of the 9 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.

perform forensic examinations

compile legal documents

comply with legal regulations

provide testimony in court hearings

maintain work area cleanliness

About coroner

The coroner determines the cause of death, conducts or oversees forensic examinations such as toxicology tests, carries out post-mortem examinations (autopsies), and documents the evidence on which a conclusion rests. The conclusion can decide whether a criminal investigation is opened.

The coroner also makes sure records of deaths are kept for the area under their responsibility. These records include post-mortem reports and the results of forensic tests.

The coroner liaises with other officials so that the investigation is complete, working with police, prosecutors and medical staff, and draws up legal documents. The coroner also gives evidence at court hearings as an expert witness. The coroner keeps the workplace in order, so that every sample and record can be traced to the right case. The coroner follows the law throughout. Which office performs these functions, and whether the holder must be a physician, differs between countries; where the role is held by a physician, it requires a medical degree.

European Skills Framework

Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.

Essential (9)

human anatomyhuman anatomyThe dynamic relationship of human structure and function and the muscosceletal, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, endocrine, urinary, reproductive, integumentary and nervous systems; normal and ...perform forensic examinationsperform forensic examinationsPerform forensic examinations on a scene or in a laboratory of gathered data, in a manner compliant with forensic procedures, and to analyse the data using forensic methods.compile legal documentscompile legal documentsCompile and collect legal documents from a specific case in order to aid an investigation or for a court hearing, in a manner compliant with legal regulations and ensuring records are properly maintai...comply with legal regulationscomply with legal regulationsEnsure you are properly informed of the legal regulations that govern a specific activity and adhere to its rules, policies and laws.provide testimony in court hearingsprovide testimony in court hearingsProvide testimony in court hearings regarding a variety of social matters and other events.maintain work area cleanlinessmaintain work area cleanlinessKeep the working area and equipment clean and orderly.document evidencedocument evidenceDocument all evidence found on a crime scene, during an investigation, or when presented in a hearing, in a manner compliant with regulations, to ensure that no piece of evidence is left out of the ca...carry out an autopsycarry out an autopsyOpen the deceased person`s body and remove the organs for examination, interpreting the findings in the context of the clinical history.determine cause of deathdetermine cause of deathDetermine the cause of death of a recently deceased individual in order to assess whether the death was from natural or abnormal causes, and to aid government officials in investigations related to th...
Optional (16) — show
diagnostic methods in medical laboratorydiagnostic methods in medical laboratoryThe various types of diagnostic methods in the medical laboratory such as clinical-chemical methods, haematological methods, immune-haematological methods, histological methods, cytological methods an...investigation research methodsinvestigation research methodsThe methods and strategies used to conduct police, government intelligence or military investigation research, as well as the research regulations specific to the operation.crime scene preservationcrime scene preservationThe methods involved in the preservation of a crime scene so that the evidence and information that can be gathered from it for an investigation is uninfluenced by outside factors.court procedurescourt proceduresThe regulations which are in place during the investigation of a court case and during a court hearing, and of how these events occur.pathologypathologyThe components of a disease, the cause, mechanisms of development, morphologic changes, and the clinical consequences of those changes.evidence-based approach in general practiceevidence-based approach in general practiceThe general principles, methods and concepts of scientific research and the fundamentals of statistics in medical care. The scientific background of pathology and theories about the forming of hypothe...perform toxicological studiesperform toxicological studiesPerform tests to detect poisons or drug misuse and help to monitor therapy by using chemical reagents, enzymes, radioisotopes and antibodies to detect abnormal chemical concentrations in the body.analyse legal evidenceanalyse legal evidenceAnalyse evidence, such as evidence in criminal cases, legal documentation regarding a case, or other documentation that can be regarded as evidence, in order to obtain a clear image of the case and re...examine crime scenesexamine crime scenesExamine crime scenes upon arrival to ensure they are not tampered and perform the initial assessments and analyses of what may have occurred, as well as examining the nature of the evidence present.assist police investigationsassist police investigationsAssist in police investigations by providing them with specialised information as a professional involved in the case, or by providing witness accounts, in order to ensure the police have all relevant...apply scientific methodsapply scientific methodsApply scientific methods and techniques to investigate phenomena, by acquiring new knowledge or correcting and integrating previous knowledge.keep up to date with diagnostic innovationskeep up to date with diagnostic innovationsKeep up to date with diagnostic innovations and apply newest methods of examination.write work-related reportswrite work-related reportsCompose work-related reports that support effective relationship management and a high standard of documentation and record keeping. Write and present results and conclusions in a clear and intelligib...advise on legal decisionsadvise on legal decisionsAdvise judges, or other officials in legal decision-making positions, on which decision would be right, compliant with the law and with moral considerations, or most advantageous for the adviser's cli...conduct health related researchconduct health related researchConduct research in health related topics and communicate findings orally, through public presentations or by writing reports and other publications.maintain operational communicationsmaintain operational communicationsMaintain communications between different departments of an organisation, between the staff, or during specific operations or missions, to ensure that the operation or mission is successful, or that t...

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Frequently asked questions

What does a coroner do?

Coroners oversee the examination of deceased individuals in order to determine the cause of death in uncommon circumstances. They ensure records are maintained of the deaths within their jurisdiction, and facilitate communication with other officials to ensure the investigation is complete.

What skills does a coroner need?

A coroner needs 9 essential skills, including human anatomy, perform forensic examinations, compile legal documents, comply with legal regulations, provide testimony in court hearings.

Will AI replace coroner jobs?

The AI disruption score for coroner is 31/100 (low risk). Skills most exposed to automation: write work-related reports, compile legal documents, document evidence. Most resilient: human anatomy, provide testimony in court hearings, carry out an autopsy.

Quick Facts

SectorPublic Administration & Legal
ISCO GroupLegal, social and cultural professionals
Essential Skills9

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