Media law - week 8 Inquests and ethical reporting of suicide

part 2

What is an inquest?

a coroner’s court inquiry into a sudden or unexplained death to establish who died, where, when and how, so a death certificate can be completed, without assigning blame.

What do coroners decide as well as inquests?

decide whether historical objects found in or on the ground should be legally classed as ‘treasure’

When must a coroner investigate a death?

• the cause is unknown
• the death is ‘violent or unnatural’
• the person died while in custody or in state detention

Violent or unnatural deaths include: deaths caused by crime, accidents, suicide, neglect or lack of care, excessive alcohol, drug misuse, poisoning.
Or if the person dies in state detention – eg prison, immigration centre, or a police cel

What is the aim of investigating deaths?

to ensure suspicious deaths are investigated and prevent other deaths in similar circumstances

Who decides if an inquest is needed?

usually doctors or police but family can ask for an inquest to take place

What is a post mortem?

examination is done by a pathologist who will determine the cause of death

What is a determination ?

the coroner’s formal conclusion at the end of an inquest, explaining how the person died, either as a short-form decision (e.g. accident) or a narrative explanation of the circumstances, without attributing blame.

Why is a jury sometimes used in an inquest?

sometimes use a jury of 7–11 people to protect civil liberties and public safety, and a jury is required for deaths in custody, deaths involving police or armed forces actions, notifiable accidents or workplace fatalities, or any other case where the coroner believes there is sufficient reason.

What are the reporting restrictions of coroner’s court?

Coroners have judicial powers to enforce attendance and make reporting restrictions, normally hold inquests in public, may admit and read documentary evidence that journalists can inspect under open justice and Article 10, must provide access to the Record of Inquest, and although inquest decisions cannot be directly appealed, they can be challenged by judicial review and quashed.

What happens in a treasure inquest?

To determine if gold or silver objects are treasure– will be deemed treasure if gold or silver or over 300 years old
- They can be acquired by British or Welsh museum
- Finder could get reward
- Landowner could get to decide what to do with item if museum doesn’t want the item

What does clause 5 of the editor’s code of practice say about reporting suicide?

“When reporting suicide, to prevent simulative acts care should be taken to avoid excessive detail of the method used, while taking into account the media's right to report legal proceedings.

What does Section 2 of the Ofcom Broadcasting Code say about reporting suicide?

“Methods of suicide and self-harm must not be included in programmes except where they are editorially justified and are also justified by the context.”

What is the aim of IPSO and OFCOM’s reporting suicide guidelines?

to prevent others copying methods of suicide or locations

What does excessive mean when talking about reporting suicide?

means that the level of detail would encourage or enable others to try this method to kill themselves

What are the Samaritan’s guidelines about reporting suicide?

Suicide reporting should avoid detail, methods, romanticising language or images, and instead be sensitive, not oversimplify causes, and include messages that suicide is preventable with sources of support, as reinforced in Marsh v Reading Chronicle.