No, you cannot unilaterally stop a coroner's post-mortem examination. The coroner has the authority to order a post-mortem if they deem it necessary to determine the cause of death. While you cannot object to a coroner's post-mortem, you are entitled to be informed of the timing and location of the examination. [Source: You cannot object to a coroner's post-mortem - but if you've asked the coroner must tell you (and the person's GP) when and where the examination will take place. ]
However, there are limited circumstances where legal intervention might be possible. If you strongly believe a post-mortem is unnecessary, you can seek legal counsel and potentially petition the High Court to halt the procedure, but this is an exceptional circumstance and involves legal fees. [Source: If the coroner decides to go ahead with the post mortem, you can ask the High Court to stop the post mortem. There is a fee for this but you can...]
It's important to distinguish between a coroner's post-mortem (ordered to determine cause of death in suspicious circumstances) and other types of post-mortem examinations (e.g., for research purposes). Consent is typically required for non-coroner related post-mortems.
Different Types of "Post-Mortems"
The term "post-mortem" has different meanings depending on the context:
- Medical Post-Mortem (Autopsy): Conducted by a coroner or medical examiner to determine the cause and manner of death. Family consent is not required in cases where the coroner orders the procedure.
- Research Post-Mortems: Used in medical research to study diseases and conditions. Consent from the deceased or their family is usually necessary.
- Project Post-Mortems: In project management, a post-mortem analysis reviews a completed project to identify successes and failures for future improvement. This type of "post-mortem" can absolutely be stopped or altered at any time before its completion.
In summary: Stopping a coroner's post-mortem is extremely difficult and requires legal action. Other types of post-mortems may be subject to different rules and procedures.
