Coronial Study - Development required;information access systems
Development required
Information access systems
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Information access systems
Nationally, networks providing access to all coded items and standard text items, via a simple
inquiry system, should be available to all coroners. Coroners contribute the investigation and
recording resources for the system. It is therefore anticipated that they should not be charged for
system transactions. They will however need to provide facilities capable of accessing the
system. In most cases this will involve software enhancements to existing systems, but some
jurisdictions may want to enhance access and therefore require hardware development.
A system of subscribers should be set up to meet the needs of authorities and research bodies whose
work would benefit from early notification of the possible circumstance and demography of new
cases. Only subscribers who have undertaken to abide by confidentiality and privacy constraints
would be included. Possible subscribers could include (among others):
| Subscriber | Topic Area |
|---|
| ABS | Coroner reported death statistical information |
| AIC | Deaths in custody |
| Consumer authorities | Consumer products |
| FORS | Road related fatalities |
| Health departments | Injury related, anaesthetic and surgery related and drug r
elated deaths. |
| NISU | All injury related deaths |
| Worksafe Australia and State industrial affairs departments | Work related
fatalities |
The early availability of information could assist with preventive activities and enable experts in
particular fields to provide relevant information to the coroner. Publication of aggregated early
release data should be possible, providing it does not interfere with the proper progress of the
case, identify individuals, and is clearly marked as preliminary information subject to review. As
new information enters the system, subscribers should receive updates of all relevant information.
For example, when toxicological results are entered on the system, they could be notified to
subscribers who are authorised to receive information on that case.
The information provided under this system would include basic demographic data, available
information on the circumstances leading to death and, as they come to hand, preliminary post
mortem and toxicological findings. The majority of cases released would not need to carry material
identifying an individual. In appropriate circumstances, it would be possible to authorise the
release of information identifying the deceased.
Once the coroner's finding is in and the case completed, data
can be provided in a number of forms. This includes:
- aggregate reports;
- access to individual case information; and
- unit record data for statistical processing.
The system could be developed to routinely provide reports and
information and to enable each coroner's office to produce and
release information in answer to specific requests.
Provision of information to major users would constitute a significant
service. Currently, major users bear the expense of manually
extracting data. Agreements about the provision of coded and
raw information to major users could be made. Revenue received
for these services could be used to maintain and develop the system
once initial capital outlay is covered.
It could be expected that all subscribers for early release data
would also receive finalised data. In addition, access to search
the database on-line could be provided at this stage.
Data could be routinely released by coroners in their own State
and by the coronial information system nationally. Ad hoc
inquiries could be dealt with in each State, with access to other
States' completed data being available.
Australia could lead the world in international access to coronial data. Some information on
Canadian deaths is already available on CD-ROM. Summary information could be released
electronically, on the Internet, using bulletin boards and list servers. On-line searching of the
completed cases database could also be permitted if desired. This would promote interchange with
coroners and medical examiners worldwide and create opportunities for interchange of information on
a wide range of topics. The Victorian Institute of Forensic Pathology already has a sophisticated
system performing many of these functions.
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