CORRESPONDENCE.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 10862, 11 January 1901, Page 6

CORRESPONDENCE.

COROXEJ. AND DOCTOR. TO THE EDITOR OI THE TRESS. Sir.—ln this morning's paper I note .hat at an inquest held in the Hospital, Mr Bishop is reported as saying "that the Coroner was the only person" to give certificates in such cases (accident, etc.), and for any one, else to do so was usurping the functions of the Coroner."

I should like to point out that by the Registration of Births and Deaths" Act, 1375, section 36, medical men are bound to give a certificate of death in all cases which they have attended during the last illness. For refusing to give such a certificate the doctor is liable to a jienalty of forty shillings'. It is then the duty ot the Registrar, if he thinks fit, to report the contents of the certificate to the police, but at the same time he is bound to register the death. (R-gul.tion. for the Guidance wf Registr_i■« of Births and Deaths, Section 54.)

-Medical men need give no information to the police or coroner except indirectly through a medical death certificate. j\ is solely the duty of th. police to make inquiries about any death and the circumstances attending it (above Act, Section 26). Dr. Crooke then did <juite right in granting a certificate of death.—Yours, etc., COUNTRY SURGEON.