The Second Post-Mortem and Deaths Overseas: A Case Report

A case is presented of a 35-year-old British engineer who died while in the Middle East. A diagnosis of ‘Acute Haemorrhagic Pancreatitis’ was made at the post-mortem examination. At a second post-mortem examination performed in the United Kingdom ten days later, the cause of death was shown to be extensive haemorrhage into the transverse mesocolon. The discovery of a localized arteritis within the haemorrhage was important in excluding significant trauma in the aetiology of this haemorrhage. This was of particular significance in this case because of the disposition of an insurance policy. The case is a demonstration of the value of the Court of Appeal's ruling in R. v. West Yorkshire Coroner, ex parte Ronald Smith. 1