Are coroners’ necropsies necessary? A prospective study examining whether a “view and grant” system of death certification could be introduced into England and Wales

The authors' implicit support for more detailed investigation of the circumstances of death before postmortem examination sits well with the "radical option"-foreshadowing a "medical examiner" system-detailed in the Home Office consultation document produced in the first phase of its Review of Death Certification, and with recommendation 11-"the feasibility of establishing a new system of death certification involving a medical examiner should be explored"-in recent advice from the chief medical officer. 4