title: Geographic variation in inquest rates in Australia.
abstract: This paper examines the relationship between the remoteness of locations in which deaths occur and coroners' decisions to hold inquests. We analysed 16,242 deaths investigated by coroners in three Australian states over 7.5 yrs. We used a choropleth map to show inquest rates in each remoteness locality (excluding deaths for which inquests were mandated by statute). We then used adjusted logistic regression to assess the association between the remoteness of a death's location and the odds coroners would select it for investigation by inquest. We found the remoteness of a death's location strongly and positively predicts the chance that an inquest will be held. Like analogous findings in the delivery of health services, this small-area variation in legal decision making raises questions of appropriateness.
authors.affiliation: Melbourne School of Population Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic 3052, Australia. swalter@unimelb.edu.au
authors.forename: Simon J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Walter
authors.forename: Lyndal
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bugeja
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Spittal
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Studdert
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002423:Cause of Death; D002648:Child; D003334:Coroners and Medical Examiners / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005843:Geography; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017062:Small-Area Analysis; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult