Health practitioners
Health practitioners who become aware of an apparently reportable death must report the death to the coroner. The State Coroner’s Guidelines Chapter 3: Reporting Deaths explain in detail what makes a death reportable under the Coroners Act 2003.
Seek Advice
As a medical professional, if you’re unsure whether a death is reportable using the Form 1A seek advice in the first instance in the below order.
- Patient Safety Officer / Quality Safety Manager / Local Medical Administrator
- Forensic Medicine Queensland (FMQ) medical professionals on (07) 3722 1300 (business hours) for assistance completing the death certificate or clinical discussions about the circumstances.
- Coroners Court of Queensland
- During business hours: Contact the general enquiries line on (07) 3738 7050 or 1300 304 605 and ask to speak to a Coronial Registrar
- After business hours: Contact the on-call Coroner on (07) 3738 7166.
The publications below provide information about whether a death is reportable and practitioner reporting obligations:
Information for health professionals (PDF, 451.6 KB)
Deaths in care (PDF, 245.4 KB)
Deaths of aged care residents (PDF, 339.1 KB)
Deaths of people with a disability information sheet (PDF, 246.0 KB)
Deaths in care (disability) - Factsheet
Attributing deaths to COVID-19 vaccines - a guide for medical practitioners | Queensland Health
All you need to know about recording and reporting COVID-19 deaths | Queensland Health
Further information – Health Pathways
Did you know that information for GPs about Certification of Death can be found on HealthPathways? To find out how HealthPathways in your area, contact your local PHN.
HealthPathways provides advice on the topics below:
Did you know that you can issue a death certificate for an apparent natural cause death even if you do not know the exact cause of death? Your opinion about the probable cause of death based on what you know of the patient’s situation is sufficient.
Did you know that you don’t have to have seen the patient within the last 3 months in order to complete their Death Certificate?
Did you know that just because someone had a health care intervention within the last 4 weeks does not mean their death is necessarily reportable?
Process to report
Complete the Form 1A - Medical practitioner report of death to a coroner (PDF, 577.1 KB) and submit with the following documents:
- discharge summary,
- recent admission notes, and
- draft Form 9 cause of death certificate.
Email: CCQF1A@justice.qld.gov.au