§ MR. DAVITT (Mayo, S.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been directed to the proceedings of a medical gentleman in making a post-mortem examination on the body of one John Leonard, who died at Alfreton; is he aware that Leonard was attended by two qualified doctors before death, and that a certificate of the usual kind, showing the cause of death, was given on the 9th May; that on the same day, a few hours after the signing of this certificate, a medical practitioner, in no way concerned in the case, entered the room where the body lay, and performed the operation referred to without any authority from the coroner or the friends of the deceased; whether such conduct is a violation of the law; and what steps does he propose to take to stop such unwarranted proceedings in future?
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir M. W. RID- LEY,) Lancashire, BlackpoolYes, my attention was called to this case some weeks ago, and I made inquiries. It appears that the examination was carried out by the son of the doctor who gave the certificate—one of the two mentioned in the Question, and at his request, the doctor being of opinion that his judgment as to the cause of death required verification. The only friends of the deceased who were known at the time were the people with whom he lodged, and they assented to the examination being made. I am advised it is by no means clear that there has been any violation of the law.
§ MR. DAVITTDid the doctor have the permission of the coroner? Is the right honourable Gentleman aware that the landlady of the house with whom Leonard died indignantly denies that she gave any permission?
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENTLeave was not asked of the coroner, and, as I have explained, the post-mortem was made at the request of one of the doctors who gave the certificate. My information is that the friends of the deceased with whom he lodged did consent to the postmortem.