My mother died two weeks ago, and the deputy Registrar made me feel like a criminal when I went to register her death. The doctor had seen Mum 4 times in the 2 weeks preceding her death, and she was in a care home. I wondered whether anyone else has had this experience and whether to complain. In essence, the Registrar didn't like the fact that "dementia" was given as the cause of death (Mum was 75).
She asked me very abruptly what had happened before she died, and I explained that Mum had stopped wanting to eat and drink a few months back, around the time of a fall for which she was seen (and discharged) by A&E in one hospital, but then due to lack of drinking had kidney failure and ended up in another hospital for three weeks with various problems. I was then put through a load of questions, before being told "well this is raising red flags" and then after going out to consult someone she said quite aggressively "you're not going to like this at all but I am going to refer the death to the Coroner". Bedside manner of a house brick in the face, frankly. And she showed me out through an incoming wedding party whilst I was visibly distressed.
The Coroner's office were really kind when I rang them the next working day, and had it all sorted within 3 hours. Has anyone else had this problem with registering a death when cause is given as dementia? Is it a common issue? I am still really upset by Mum's death and I am not sure what to do about this, but I would hate anyone else to go through it.
She asked me very abruptly what had happened before she died, and I explained that Mum had stopped wanting to eat and drink a few months back, around the time of a fall for which she was seen (and discharged) by A&E in one hospital, but then due to lack of drinking had kidney failure and ended up in another hospital for three weeks with various problems. I was then put through a load of questions, before being told "well this is raising red flags" and then after going out to consult someone she said quite aggressively "you're not going to like this at all but I am going to refer the death to the Coroner". Bedside manner of a house brick in the face, frankly. And she showed me out through an incoming wedding party whilst I was visibly distressed.
The Coroner's office were really kind when I rang them the next working day, and had it all sorted within 3 hours. Has anyone else had this problem with registering a death when cause is given as dementia? Is it a common issue? I am still really upset by Mum's death and I am not sure what to do about this, but I would hate anyone else to go through it.