This page provides a summary of the legal obligations for doctors in Victoria when a patient dies. It covers reporting a death to either the Coroners Court of Victoria or the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria when completing a:
- Medical certificate of cause of death (MCCD), or
- Medical certificate of perinatal death (MCCPD).
For full details, refer to relevant legislation including the Coroners Act 2008, Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 1996, and Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2017.
When to notify the Coroner
A death must be reported to the Coroners Court of Victoria if it’s considered a reportable or reviewable death under the Coroners Act.
Reportable deaths include where the death is or appears to be:
- Unexpected, unnatural, or violent
- The result of an accident or injury
- Of unknown identity
- Due to unknown causes
- Related to a medical procedure where death was not reasonably expected and the procedure may have been a cause
- Of a person in custody, or under a non-custodial supervision order
- Of a person detained in a mental health service under a compulsory assessment, treatment or supervision order under the Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022
- Of a person living in specialist disability accommodation under the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
Reviewable deaths include the death of a child where another child of the parent(s) has previously died. The Coroners Act provides some exemptions.
There are other situations where a death must be reported. Visit the Coroners Court of Victoria for more information on reportable deaths and reviewable deaths.
Contacting the Coroner
To report a death or learn more, contact the Coronial Admissions and Enquiries Office 24/7 on 1300 309 519 or visit Coroners Court of Victoria.
When to notify Births, Deaths and Marriages
If the death is not reportable or reviewable, doctors are required to notify Births, Deaths, and Marriages under the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act.
If you are a doctor who:
- Was responsible for the person's medical care immediately before death, or
- Examined the deceased person's body after death
Then you must:
- Notify Births, Deaths and Marriages within 48 hours, and
- Give the funeral director a signed copy of the cause of death certificate.
The Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act does not say you can charge a fee for completing the certificate or providing a copy to the funeral director.
Notifying Births, Deaths and Marriages
To notify Births, Deaths and Marriages, log in or create an account.
Read more about help with cause of death or contact us for help.
Voluntary Assisted Dying
If you know or reasonably believe the person had a voluntary assisted dying permit, you must:
- State this on the medical certificate of cause of death
- Provide details required by the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act, including the illness or condition relevant to the permit and
- Submit the medical certificate of cause of death to Births, Deaths and Marriages and notify the Coroners Court of Victoria.
Further information about Voluntary Assisted Dying, visit the Department of Health.
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