§ Mr. Viantasked the Minister of Health whether inquests were held on the 13 deaths associated with vaccination in 1947, and the seven similar deaths in 1948; and what arrangements exist, and who is normally responsible for bringing these and similar accidents from vaccination and inoculation processes under the notice of the coroner.
§ Mr. BevanIn seven of these 20 cases there was a post mortem and inquest: in another three the coroner ordered a post mortem but then decided that no inquest was necessary. As regards reporting a death to a coroner there is no difference between a case of this kind of any other in which a doctor may judge it his duty not to give a death certificate without reference to a coroner.
§ Mr. Viantasked the Minister of Health why details of all the 13 deaths associated 40W with vaccination in the year 1947 were not given in the Annual Report of the Chief Medical Officer of his Department recently issued; and if he will arrange for such details to be included in future Annual Reports of his Chief Medical Officer.
§ Mr. BevanOnly those cases which involved post-vaccinal encephalomyelitis were dealt with in the Report, as has been the practice in previous years, because the causes of this particular complication have not yet been established and it is therefore of special interest to doctors. The inclusion in future Reports of information about post-vaccination deaths from other causes is being considered.