New government consultation proposing coronial investigations of stillbirths (closes 18 June)

[HerewardTheWoke]

I've just become aware of a new government consultation from MoJ which I think will be of interest to posters here.

A private members bill which provides a power for the Lord Chancellor to make provision for stillbirths to be investigated by coroners has apparently just quietly made its way through Parliament. This consultation is a way of establishing if it's appropriate for that power to be invoked.

While this is doubtless well-intentioned legislation, and while I'm very sympathetic to the desires of parents to have stillbirths recognised and investigated robustly, I am extremely alarmed by the proposed introduction of coroners into this process, as I think it seems very likely to have scope for unintended consequences. I'm enormously concerned that investigation of stillbirths using coroners (which will apparently be modelled on the inquest process) will establish a precedent that pregnancies where the foetus dies before birth will be treated by our legal system as the death of natural persons (at the moment, babies who are stillborn receive a certificate of stillbirth rather than a birth and death certificate). This seems to have obvious bearing on abortion rights/legal status of miscarriages.

Really worryingly, I can't see any discussion of late-term abortions; the guiding principle of the proposal seems to be (and I quote): "Our view is that there is no difference in principle between an inquest into the death of a recently born baby and that of a stillborn baby." So what makes a late-term abortion any different?

I understand this is a sensitive topic on a parenting board but I'm interested to hear what posters here think, especially anyone with legal expertise. If you have strong views on this I of course urge you to complete the consultation.

consult.justice.gov.uk/digital-communications/coronial-investigations-of-stillbirths/

'So what makes a late-term abortion any different?'

The differences are obvious - the cause of death is known and needs no investigation.

If a late termination is carried out other than in line with the law as it currently stands, then there are already checks/balances and potential prosecution for those who break that law.

BTW there's a stickied thread at the top of Active about this.

I am concerned that this proposal means that the long-standing Confidential Enquiry (which has always been much praised) is not actually as good as claimed. I think I would prefer to see that augmented, rather than a move to the Coroner.

But if it was a separate division of the Coroner's Court then it might be possible to have better investigation without any suggestion of conferring personhood

When my sister had a full term stillbirth it went to the coroner. There was a full investigation of both the hospital and an autopsy. As it turned out there were no answers to be found.
All stillborn babies born after 20 weeks are given a birth and death certificate. I am in Australia.