The iatrogenic harms of coroners’ inquests: Self-inflicted deaths in health and social work settings

Self-inflicted deaths are relatively common events (Foley and Kelly 2007) and therefore, professionals in health and social care settings are likely to be impacted by such deaths (Corteen et al. 2014). They are also very likely to be involved in investigations into service user self-inflicted deaths including coroners’ inquests. The role of coroners’ inquests is to establish facts rather than apportion blame, they seek to find answers in respect of an unexpected or unexplained death. However, these good intentions, can in practice be experienced as harmful. Regardless of responsibility and culpability, the public nature of coroners’ inquests can be problematic. Drawing on Corteen et al. (2014), this chapter discusses the iatrogenic harms of coroners’ inquests in the United Kingdom. Utilising a victimological lens it looks at the victim status of health and social care professionals in the context of service user self-inflicted deaths.

Citation

Corteen, K., & Taylor, P. (2027). The iatrogenic harms of coroners’ inquests: Self-inflicted deaths in health and social work settings (pp. tbc). In R. Hesketh, K. Corteen, & N. Cross (Eds.). A Critical Reflection on Iatrogenic Social Harm: Doing More Harm than Good? Palgrave Macmillan.

Publisher

Palgrave Macmillan

URI

https://chesterrep.openrepository.com/handle/10034/629998

Type

Book chapter