Accidental or Unexpected Deaths

All accidental or unexpected deaths must be reported to the police who then will refer the matter to the coroner.  A person who suffers an unnatural death will be taken by the police from the place of death to the John Tonge Centre;  that is, the City Mortuary.  After the coroner’s examination is complete they will then release the deceased so the funeral may take place.  It is not necessary for the family to wait until the coroner has completed their examination before the Contacting the funeral director.

At Home

If someone has an accident or falls ill unexpectedly at Home,  you should Immediately call an ambulance on 000.  If death occurs and Ambulance personnel suspect the death is of a sudden or unexpected nature they will call the Police.  If the Police believe there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death,  they will contact the deceased’s usual doctor and ask them to prepare a Cause of Death Certificate.  Once this is completed you can call Dignified Cremations on 1800 11 33 55 and we will arrange to transfer the deceased from your home and into our care.

If the Police believe there are suspicious circumstances surrounding the death, or if they cannot contact the deceased’s usual doctor,  the Police will contact the Government Undertaker to convey the deceased person to the nearest Government Mortuary.  If the deceased’s doctor could not be reached initially, but later agrees to sign the Cause of Death Certificate, then a post mortem (autopsy) will not be carried out.  Otherwise, the Coroner will examine the facts surrounding the death and possibly hold a post mortem (autopsy) in order to determine the cause of death.  Once the post mortem has been performed and the deceased has been formally identified, they are available for release using a Coroner’s Order for either burial or cremation.  Dignified Cremations staff will submit the appropriate paperwork to obtain the Coroner’s Order,  then transfer the deceased into our care.

Your choice of funeral director

It is important to remember that in coronial cases you are free to use your preferred funeral company for the funeral.  The Coroner employs a government-contracted funeral director whose job it is to transfer the deceased from the place of death to the City Mortuary.  The government contractor is not contracted to do the funeral afterwards unless directed by the Justice Department,  and on ethical grounds the government contract forbids him from touting for the funeral.

At Another Place

If a person dies away from home and the Police believe there are suspicious circumstances surrounding the death, they will arrange for the Government Undertaker to convey the deceased person to the nearest Government Mortuary.  The Coroner will examine the facts surrounding the death and possibly hold a post mortem (autopsy) in order to determine the cause of death.  Once the post mortem has been performed and the deceased has been formally identified, they are available for release using a Coroner’s Order for either burial or cremation.  Dignified Cremations staff will submit the appropriate paperwork to obtain the Coroner’s Order, then transfer the deceased into our care.