Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Evolution of the Nurse’s Role in Death Investigation

  • Chapter
Essentials of Autopsy Practice

  • 1084 Accesses

Summary

Forensic practice in nursing is not new to the United Kingdom, particularly with regard to mental health nursing. However, other branches of nursing involved in forensic practice provide new, expanded, advanced roles for the nurses of this century. Forensic practice has been making a difference in health care areas that traditionally have not always been part of the National Health Service, but importantly it is beginning to make a difference in the legal arena. Nursing has always been diverse. Nursing has always been about caring. The most vulnerable groups in our society have always needed nursing. Perhaps there is a need for the new forensic nurse examiner to be given the opportunity to be there for these individuals within the realms of death investigation.

It is time for nursing to take the lead in building multidisciplinary partnerships in clinical practice, education, and research, but it is imperative that the underlying intention of upholding and promoting patient advocacy and family health care remains. After all, caring is the central concern and essence of nursing.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Taylor C, Lillis C, LeMone P. Fundamentals of nursing. Philadelphia: Lippincott, 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Goward P. The development of nursing practice. In: Kenworthy N, Snowley G, Gilling C, editors. Common foundation studies in nursing. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, 1992: 177–194.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Donahue MP. Nursing: the finest art. St. Louis: Mosby Year Book, 1985.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Dossey BM. Florence Nightingale: mystic, visionary, healer. Springhouse, PA: Springhouse, 2000.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Meleis AI. Theoretical nursing: development and progress. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott, 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Buckenham JE, MacGrath G. The social reality of nursing. Balgowlah, Australia: ADIS Health Science Press, 1983.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Nightingale F. Notes on nursing. London: Garrison; 1859.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Henderson V. Nature of nursing. New York: Macmillan, 1966.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Royal College of Nursing. Defining nursing [cited 2003 April]. Available from: www.rcn.org.uk.

    Google Scholar 

  10. NHS Management Executive. Junior doctors: the new deal. London: Department of Health, 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  11. United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting. The scope of professional practice. London: UKCC, 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Standing Medical Advisory Committee and the Standing Nursing and Midwifery Advisory Committee. DHSS Professional Letter, PL/CMO 1989;89:7.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Green MA. Preservation of forensic evidence in accident and emergency department. Accid Emerg 1993;3:38–41.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Cumming MF. The vision of a nurse-coroner. J Psychosoc Nurs 1995;33:29–33.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. O’Connor T. A nurse’s guide to the coroner’s court. Kai Tiaki: Nursing New Zealand, March 24–25, 1995.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Sullivan GH. Declaring death is sometimes a nurse’s job. Regist Nurse 1995;March:51.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Davis GJ. Your role in death investigations. Am J Nurs 1994;94:39–41.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Staunton P. The coroner’s court and other legal matters. Lamp 1994;51:3.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Sounder E, Trojanowski JQ. Autopsy: cutting away the myths. J Neurosci Nurs 1992;24:134–139.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Descheneaux K. Death investigation: how can you help? Nursing 1991;September:52–55.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Schramm CA. Forensic medicine: what the perioperative nurse needs to know. AORN J 1991;53:669–692.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Pounder D. The coroner service: a relic in need of reform. Br Med J 1999;318:1502–1503.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. HMSO. The Human Rights Act. London: HMSO, 2000.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Tarling R. Coroner service survey. London: Home Office Research and Statistics Directorate, 1998.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Ashely J, Devis T. Death certification from the point of view of the epidemiologist. Popul Trends 1992;67:22–28.

    Google Scholar 

  26. O’Sullivan JP. Reporting deaths to the coroner: doctors abuse the coronial system. Br Med J 1993;306: 1539.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. National Funerals College. The dead citizens charter. Bristol: National Funerals College, 1998.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Rutty JE. Her Majesty’s coroners and Home Office forensic pathologists perception of the nurses’ role in the coroner’s enquiry. Int J Nurs Stud 2000;37:351–359.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Sheikh A. Death and dying: a Muslim perspective. J R Soc Med 1998;91:138–140.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. MacDonald RC. Re: the Coroner’s service: a relic in need of reform. Br Med J [rapid response letter 16 June, 1999]. Available from: http://bmj.com/cgi/eletters/318/7197/1502#3554.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Inguito GB, Pelletier TK, Pretzler E Jr, Ingle JH. Delaware’s medico legal investigation of death: part 2. Del Med J 2001;73:57–62.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. HMSO. Death investigation and investigation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland: the report of a fundamental review 2003. London: Home Office, 2003.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Rutty JE. Nursing care for detainees in police stations: a qualitative study explores the meaning of this pioneering role in England. International Council of Nursing Congress, Copenhagen, Denmark, June 10–14, 2001.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Better Regulation Taskforce. Protecting vulnerable people. London: Cabinet Office, 2000.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Lynch VA. Forensic nursing in the emergency department: a new role for the 1990s. Crit Care Nurse Q 1991;14:69–86.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Lynch V. Forensic nursing. Virginia Nurses Today 1997;5:27.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Lynch V. Clinical forensic nursing: a new perspective in trauma and medico-legal investigation of death. 3rd ed. Collins, CO: Bearhawk Consulting Group, 1998.

    Google Scholar 

  38. MacNamara H. Living forensics (seminar pamphlet). Ulster County, NY: Office of the Medical Examiner, 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Lynch V. The registered nurse functioning as an investigator of death: a new field for the profession? Paper presented at the 38th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, New Orleans, LA, 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Rutty JE. The nurse as a death scene investigator. Forensic Science Society Conference, Derby, United Kingdom, April 23–25, 2004.

    Google Scholar 

  41. Rutty JE. Death investigation: A hermeneutic study of the forensic nurse’s role in South Carolina, USA. International Association of Forensic Nursing 9th annual scientific assembly, Orlando, Florida, September 25–October 2, 2001.

    Google Scholar 

  42. Rutty JE. The coroner’s enquiry: a study of the nurse’s role [dissertation]. London: The Royal College of Nursing Institute of Advanced Nursing Education, 1998.

    Google Scholar 

  43. Royal College of Nursing. Issues in nursing and health: nursing, the nature and scope of professional practice. London: RCN, 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  44. Home Office. Deaths reported to coroners: England and Wales, 2000. London: Home Office, 2001.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, De Monfort University, Leicester, UK

    Jane E. Rutty MSc, BSc(Hons), DPSN, RGN, ILTM (Principal Lecturer)

Authors
  1. Jane E. Rutty MSc, BSc(Hons), DPSN, RGN, ILTM
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Leicester, Leicester, UK

    Guy N. Rutty MD, MBBS, FRCPath, DipRCPath(Forensic) (Consultant Home Office Pathologist) (Consultant Home Office Pathologist)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2006 Springer-Verlag London Limited

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Rutty, J.E. (2006). The Evolution of the Nurse’s Role in Death Investigation. In: Rutty, G.N. (eds) Essentials of Autopsy Practice. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/1-84628-026-5_1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/1-84628-026-5_1

  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-85233-967-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-84628-026-9

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation