The Coronial Investigation into Perinatal Deaths
What is the project about?
The Coronial Investigation into Perinatal Deaths – Impacts on Coroners, Bereaved Parents, Healthcare Professionals and The Community
The mandatory notification of perinatal deaths, which was implemented in Ireland under the Coroner’s Act in 2019, has had a significant impact on all those affected by perinatal deaths. Further research specifically focused on the Coronial investigation on perinatal deaths is necessary and can make a valuable contribution to current practices surrounding the investigation of perinatal mortality in Ireland, involving all stakeholders in the process.
This research aims to bring healthcare professionals, Coroners and patient representatives together to establish a platform for evidence-based reform of reviews of perinatal death. The findings of this work will build upon previous research collaborations to develop a resource for parents about perinatal death reviews.
What is involved?
Project 1: The Role of Coroners (and equivalent) in Perinatal Death Investigation in High Income Countries - A Scoping Review
- This scoping review aims to explore the role of Coroners among high-income countries in perinatal death investigation.
Project 2: Media and Discourse Analysis of Coroners, Inquests, and Perinatal Deaths
- This study will examine media discourse on Coroners, inquests, and perinatal deaths in Ireland. It will explore the language and visuals used by the media on perinatal death investigation and analyse its impact on the public and other stakeholders.
Project 3: Coroners Experience on Perinatal Death Review - A Qualitative Study
- Semi-structured interviews will be conducted to learn about Coroners' experiences in perinatal death investigation and their perspectives on the new Coroners Act introduced in 2019.
Project 4: Impact of the Coronial Process on Healthcare Professionals - A Qualitative Study
- Through semi-structured interviews, we will explore the personal and professional impacts of health professionals' involvement in the perinatal death review process, as well as their perspectives on its impact on parents.
Who is involved?
Project team
| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Varsha Nagaraj Shetty | Pregnancy Loss Research Group | PhD Student |
| Professor Keelin O'Donoghue | Pregnancy Loss Research Group | Primary Supervisor |
| Dr Sara Leitao | National Perinatal Epidemiology Centre, UCC; Pregnancy Loss Research Group | Co-Supervisor |
Collaborators
| Name | Affiliation |
|---|---|
| Professor Mary Donnelly | School of Law, UCC |
| Dr Claire Murray | School of Law, UCC |
| Dr Mary Tumelty | School of Law, UCC |
Project status
Ongoing: January 2024 to December 2026.
Further information
Please email Varsha Shetty: vshetty@ucc.ie