Learn how to give evidence at an inquest

As a clinician, you could be asked to give written or oral evidence for an inquest at any time – and this can be a daunting experience for any medical professional.

Our one-day Introduction to Inquests will equip you with all the knowledge, skills and confidence you’ll need to give evidence to the highest professional standards.

You’ll gain practical experience of writing a witness statement, with a real case sample to review. On day 2, you will also attend a real inquest at Oxfordshire Coroner’s Court and gain deep insights into how the process works with our trainer, Isabel Bathurst.

This Introduction to Inquests training is accredited for CPD by the Royal College of Surgeons of England.

Learning outcomes:

Day 1 will introduce you to:

• the practicalities of an inquest
• the legal framework and how to comply with court requirements
• what’s expected of you as the clinician
• how to structure your factual witness evidence (written and oral)
• tips for giving evidence and preparing for questions
• what the Coroner is looking for.

On day 2, you’ll gain invaluable insights into how the process works by attending a real inquest at Oxfordshire Coroner’s Court.

This course is taught by highly experienced solicitor Isabel Bathurst, who represents families at inquests following catastrophic accidents, clinical negligence, and deaths in custody. Isabel is joined by Dr Colin Holburn, Consultant in Emergency Medicine who is highly experienced in giving evidence at inquests. Finally, Professor Paul Marks, Neurosurgeon and Coroner for East Riding, Yorkshire, shares his invaluable insights via a pre-recorded presentation.

Please note: this is a general introduction to inquests for clinicians who are new to this work. It is not aimed at clinicians who provide expert evidence to the Coroner. Our Witness Familiarisation course would be more suitable for those giving expert evidence.

Speakers