When post-mortem examination necessary
Open ↗18. —(1) In a case of a death reported to a Coroner under section 11, the Coroner may, after consulting a pathologist, order a post-mortem examination to be conducted if the Coroner is of the opinion that a post-mortem examination is necessary in the circumstances to establish the manner and cause of death. (2) Despite subsection (1), a Coroner must order a post‑mortem examination to be conducted if the Coroner is directed to do so by the Public Prosecutor in any particular case.
—(1) In a case of a death reported to a Coroner under section 11, the Coroner may, after consulting a pathologist, order a post-mortem examination to be conducted if the Coroner is of the opinion that a post-mortem examination is necessary in the circumstances to establish the manner and cause of death.
(2) Despite subsection (1), a Coroner must order a post‑mortem examination to be conducted if the Coroner is directed to do so by the Public Prosecutor in any particular case.
Conduct of post-mortem examination
Open ↗19. —(1) A post-mortem examination may only be performed by — ( a ) a pathologist; or ( b ) a medical practitioner under the supervision of a pathologist. (2) A pathologist who conducts or supervises a post-mortem examination may — ( a ) perform or cause to be performed any operation on the body that the pathologist thinks necessary, including causing any part or contents of the body or any other substance or thing to be retained for the purpose of determining the manner or cause of death; and ( b ) where necessary, appoint any person who in the pathologist’s opinion is qualified to make a special examination by way of an analysis, test or otherwise of any part or contents of the body or of any other substance or thing, and send such part, contents, substance or thing to that person for special examination. (3) The Coroner or the forensic pathologist investigating a case (if any) may direct the person performing a post-mortem examination to cause to be retained any part or contents of the body or any other substance or thing which appears to the Coroner or forensic pathologist to be relevant in establishing the manner or cause of death.
—(1) A post-mortem examination may only be performed by — ( a ) a pathologist; or ( b ) a medical practitioner under the supervision of a pathologist.
(2) A pathologist who conducts or supervises a post-mortem examination may — ( a ) perform or cause to be performed any operation on the body that the pathologist thinks necessary, including causing any part or contents of the body or any other substance or thing to be retained for the purpose of determining the manner or cause of death; and ( b ) where necessary, appoint any person who in the pathologist’s opinion is qualified to make a special examination by way of an analysis, test or otherwise of any part or contents of the body or of any other substance or thing, and send such part, contents, substance or thing to that person for special examination.
(3) The Coroner or the forensic pathologist investigating a case (if any) may direct the person performing a post-mortem examination to cause to be retained any part or contents of the body or any other substance or thing which appears to the Coroner or forensic pathologist to be relevant in establishing the manner or cause of death.
Post-mortem examination report and special examination report
Open ↗20. —(1) A pathologist who has conducted or supervised any post‑mortem examination must — ( a ) draw up, or cause to be drawn up, a report of the findings of the post-mortem examination and of the conclusions which he or she draws from it; ( b ) certify as to the medical cause of death; and ( c ) date and sign the report and send it to the Coroner who ordered the post-mortem examination. (2) Where a person has been appointed under section 19(2)( b ), he or she must draw up a report of the findings of his or her special examination, date and sign the report and send it to the Coroner who ordered the post-mortem examination. (3) The post-mortem examination report made under subsection (1) and any special examination report made under subsection (2) are admissible as evidence, and are prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein, at any inquiry held under this Act. (4) The pathologist who conducted or supervised the post‑mortem examination or any person appointed under section 19(2)( b ), if summoned by the Coroner as a witness in an inquiry, may be asked to give evidence as to his or her opinion upon any matter arising out of the examination conducted or supervised by him or her and as to how in his or her opinion the deceased came by his or her death.
—(1) A pathologist who has conducted or supervised any post‑mortem examination must — ( a ) draw up, or cause to be drawn up, a report of the findings of the post-mortem examination and of the conclusions which he or she draws from it; ( b ) certify as to the medical cause of death; and ( c ) date and sign the report and send it to the Coroner who ordered the post-mortem examination.
(2) Where a person has been appointed under section 19(2)( b ), he or she must draw up a report of the findings of his or her special examination, date and sign the report and send it to the Coroner who ordered the post-mortem examination.
(3) The post-mortem examination report made under subsection (1) and any special examination report made under subsection (2) are admissible as evidence, and are prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein, at any inquiry held under this Act.
(4) The pathologist who conducted or supervised the post‑mortem examination or any person appointed under section 19(2)( b ), if summoned by the Coroner as a witness in an inquiry, may be asked to give evidence as to his or her opinion upon any matter arising out of the examination conducted or supervised by him or her and as to how in his or her opinion the deceased came by his or her death.
Power of Coroner to order exhumation
Open ↗21. A Coroner may, and if directed to do so by the Public Prosecutor under section 26(2) must, order the exhumation of a body, or the remains of a body, for the purpose of discharging any of the Coroner’s duties, or exercising any of the Coroner’s powers under this Act.
Power of Coroner to order release for burial, cremation, etc.
Open ↗22. —(1) Where a death which is, or appears to be, a reportable death has been reported to a Coroner and the body is in Singapore, the Coroner has control of the body until the earlier of the following occurs: ( a ) the Minister issues a certificate in respect of the body under section 17A(1), unless the Minister’s certificate is revoked and the Coroner resumes control of the body by virtue of section 17A(4)( c ); ( b ) the Coroner issues an order to release the body under subsection (3). [Act 31 of 2021 wef 02/05/2023] (2) If a post-mortem examination has been ordered on the body, the Coroner may issue the order under subsection (3) only after the post‑mortem examination has been concluded. (3) The Coroner may, whether or not he or she considers that an inquiry is necessary, order the release of a body — ( a ) for burial or cremation; ( b ) for the body to be transported out of Singapore; or ( c ) for the retention of the body for use in any manner in accordance with law, and if the Coroner so orders, must issue a certificate of his or her order to release the body. (4) Where a reportable death has occurred or is suspected to have occurred and the body is in Singapore, any person who, without reasonable excuse, the burden of proving which is on the accused in a prosecution — ( a ) buries, cremates, transports out of Singapore or otherwise uses or disposes of that body; or ( b ) causes that body to be buried, cremated, transported out of Singapore or otherwise used or disposed of, without the certificate of the Minister mentioned in subsection (1)( a ) that has not been revoked or the order of a Coroner under subsection (3), shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both. [Act 31 of 2021 wef 02/05/2023]
—(1) Where a death which is, or appears to be, a reportable death has been reported to a Coroner and the body is in Singapore, the Coroner has control of the body until the earlier of the following occurs: ( a ) the Minister issues a certificate in respect of the body under section 17A(1), unless the Minister’s certificate is revoked and the Coroner resumes control of the body by virtue of section 17A(4)( c ); ( b ) the Coroner issues an order to release the body under subsection (3). [Act 31 of 2021 wef 02/05/2023]
(2) If a post-mortem examination has been ordered on the body, the Coroner may issue the order under subsection (3) only after the post‑mortem examination has been concluded.
(3) The Coroner may, whether or not he or she considers that an inquiry is necessary, order the release of a body — ( a ) for burial or cremation; ( b ) for the body to be transported out of Singapore; or ( c ) for the retention of the body for use in any manner in accordance with law, and if the Coroner so orders, must issue a certificate of his or her order to release the body.
(4) Where a reportable death has occurred or is suspected to have occurred and the body is in Singapore, any person who, without reasonable excuse, the burden of proving which is on the accused in a prosecution — ( a ) buries, cremates, transports out of Singapore or otherwise uses or disposes of that body; or ( b ) causes that body to be buried, cremated, transported out of Singapore or otherwise used or disposed of, without the certificate of the Minister mentioned in subsection (1)( a ) that has not been revoked or the order of a Coroner under subsection (3), shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both. [Act 31 of 2021 wef 02/05/2023]
Coroner to report to Public Prosecutor if body is released without inquiry
Open ↗23. In every case where a body is released by an order of a Coroner under section 22 and no inquiry is held, the Coroner must report the facts to the Public Prosecutor with the Coroner’s reasons for not holding an inquiry.
Source: Singapore Statutes Online (Attorney-General's Chambers), © Government of Singapore.
