A finding of neglect at an inquest can have ‘profound implications’ and ‘invariably carries with it an element of censure’, but what are its boundaries and limits?
David Regan, a coroner in south Wales, writes in this week’s NLJ that neglect is ‘frequently misreported and misunderstood’.
Regan explains that the concept of neglect is ‘ill-defined’ and has developed in a ‘piecemeal fashion’. He covers the scope of neglect in a coronial context, the test for causation and the application of neglect in a range of situations.
Regan writes: ‘Although its application is relatively limited, the concept of neglect has played a significant role in pushing the boundaries of coronial law and in making the investigation of unnatural deaths by coroners more rigorous.’
