title: The case for a cost-effective central coronial database following an analysis of coronial records relating to deaths in nursing homes.
abstract: In order to demonstrate the potential wider epidemiological application of the data held in coroners' files, this paper uses an analysis of nursing home deaths reported to the coroner in County Kildare, Ireland. We examine the deaths in relation to ages, primary causes of death and rates of post-mortem examination. Knowing that Europe's population is increasing in age, the analyses presented here show the type of information that could be made available relating to certain population cohorts. Currently, there is no easily accessible way to obtain this information in Ireland, so we present the case for the implementation of a central coroner's database with potential for application in other jurisdictions but with the caveat that it must be cost-effective and use current resources, rather than establishing new ones.
authors.affiliation: Forensic & Legal Medicine, School of Medicine & Medical Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland. Electronic address: cliona.mcgovern@ucd.ie.
authors.forename: Cliona
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McGovern
authors.affiliation: Forensic & Legal Medicine, School of Medicine & Medical Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland; Coroner for County Kildare, c/o Forensic & Legal Medicine, School of Medicine & Medical Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland. Electronic address: legal.medicine@ucd.ie.
authors.forename: Denis A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Cusack
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002423:Cause of Death; D003334:Coroners and Medical Examiners; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality; D009735:Nursing Homes; D012042:Registries; D017678:Sex Distribution; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cause of death; Central database; Coroner's inquiry; Cost-effective; Nursing homes