Verdict of suicide may be dropped in reform of inquests

Coroners' powers may be overhauled to make the system more sensitive to bereaved families, a Home Office report published yesterday said.

In the most radical reform of their powers for more than 80 years, coroners may no long hear controversial or complicated inquests and the verdicts system may be replaced.

The independent Coroner Review Group said verdicts such as "accidental death", "misadventure" or "natural causes" may need to be dropped in favour of more considered rulings that would "be more helpful to families grieving over traffic deaths or deaths after complex events in hospitals".

The verdict of "suicide" may be replaced by the more neutral phase, "death by own actions", in an effort to end the stigma attached to the word.

The review group, which was set up after the conviction of the serial killer Harold Shipman, deemed some existing verdicts as "meaningless and ... offensive".

The committee chairman, Tom Luce, said the inquest system was "obsolete and neglected". He added: "Neither the death certification nor the death investigation system meet the needs of a modern society. Both need substantial reform.

"We aim to recommend new systems for certifying and investigating deaths which serve the needs of the modern public, give bereaved families better rights, and provide the professionals with better support."

The report proposed a new system that would set out the facts, the cause of death and possible changes to avoid a similar deaths. It also considered abandoning inquests in cases including suicide, as well as death caused by road accidents, occupational diseases and accidents at work. It suggested that Crown or High Court judges should take over "complex or contentious" cases.

The group is seeking comments on the proposals before the consultation period closes on 22 November.