Inquests into patients who die while under a deprivation of liberty order

Abstract

Coroners have received guidance from the chief coroner that an inquest should be held after the death of a patient who is under a deprivation of liberty order. Sarah Ormond-Walshe and colleagues consider the legal situation and its implications for doctors

Palliative care clinicians' knowledge of the law regarding the use of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS)

“…Use of the DoLS within the palliative care population has raised a number of concerns. These include significant delays in the assessment process,11 the difficulty determining the exact point at which the Safeguards are required,12 and the requirements for an inquest if a patient dies while subject to the DoLS 13. While these issues are not unique to palliative care, the complexity and vulnerability of this patient group, combined with the short length of stay in most hospices, has led to concern over the limited utility of the Safeguards in this patient population (see online supplementary box S2 for case examples) 14…”