Mawson collision leads to death

76 isn’t that old. Who’s to know his pre-existing condition wasn’t something like asthma or the like, that had nothing to do with his ability to drive a car.

If he hasn’t been under frequent and recent medical care, they will determine why he died. Heart attack/brain condition/etc. Or something that arose from the accident – eg broken ribs puncturing lungs etc.

They do quite a few autopsies, or post mortems as they are sometimes called, in the ACT. The Coroners ACT details when an inquest has to be held, and it’s up to the Coroner if an autopsy is done, however they normally do an autopsy for most inquiests.

It’s all done in accordance with:

CORONERS ACT 1997 – SECT 13
Coroner’s jurisdiction in relation to deaths

(1) A coroner must hold an inquest into the manner and cause of death of a person who—

(a) is killed; or

(b) is found drowned; or

(c) dies, or is suspected to have died, a sudden death the cause of which is unknown; or

(d) dies under suspicious circumstances; or

(e) dies during or within 72 hours after, or as a result of—

(i) an operation of a medical, surgical, dental or like nature; or

(ii) an invasive medical or diagnostic procedure;

other than an operation or procedure prescribed by regulation to be an operation or procedure to which this paragraph does not apply; or

(f) dies and a doctor has not given a certificate about the cause of death; or

(g) dies not having been attended by a doctor at any time within the period commencing 3 months before the death; or

(h) dies after an accident where the cause of death appears to be directly attributable to the accident; or

(j) dies, or is suspected to have died, in circumstances that, in the opinion of the Attorney-General, should be better ascertained; or

(k) dies in custody.

Tooks said :

schmeah said :

I don’t understand why an autopsy is necessary? The man was old, had a pre-existing condition that probably should have precluded him from driving, and was in shock after an accident. Surely bloods and ops were taken while he was in the A&E ..

Do they cut people up just for fun these days?

Are you serious? They ‘cut him open’ because they don’t know how he died. Just like they do to a 99 year old who dies a few hours after a procedure in hospital. Just because he had a pre existing condition, doesn’t mean he didn’t die of something else (brain anuerism, heart attack etc).

I was being seroious, sorry I don’t work in the medical profession so to me it seems unnecessary and macabre.

schmeah said :

I don’t understand why an autopsy is necessary? The man was old, had a pre-existing condition that probably should have precluded him from driving, and was in shock after an accident. Surely bloods and ops were taken while he was in the A&E ..

Do they cut people up just for fun these days?

Are you serious? They ‘cut him open’ because they don’t know how he died. Just like they do to a 99 year old who dies a few hours after a procedure in hospital. Just because he had a pre existing condition, doesn’t mean he didn’t die of something else (brain anuerism, heart attack etc).

schmeah said :

I don’t understand why an autopsy is necessary? The man was old, had a pre-existing condition that probably should have precluded him from driving, and was in shock after an accident. Surely bloods and ops were taken while he was in the A&E ..

Do they cut people up just for fun these days?

as far as i know, there is likley to be an autopsy unless a doctor charged with his care immediatley pre-decease would sign a death certificate – and clearly, there is the trauma of a collision that would preclude any purudent person and doctor from certifying such a thing – so no, [faceless] they don’t cut people up for fun, but for the serious business of determining the actual cause of death and not relying on speculation… do you know what the ‘pre-existing’ medical condition was? was it life threatening, or perhaps simply debilitating…

and as for 76 being “old” – you ought to meet my father!

I don’t understand why an autopsy is necessary? The man was old, had a pre-existing condition that probably should have precluded him from driving, and was in shock after an accident. Surely bloods and ops were taken while he was in the A&E ..

Do they cut people up just for fun these days?

He probably died of old age waiting in the queue at emergency after they ripped some blood out of him to determine blood/alcohol content.

futto said :

Does anyone know if this counts in the road toll?

The second last paragraph of the press release does.

futto said :

Does anyone know if this counts in the road toll?

Read the 2nd last sentence of the article above.

Does anyone know if this counts in the road toll?