DETECTING HOMICIDE IN-HOSPITAL

The Beverly Allitt case and the subsequent inquiry have focused attent ion on the detection of covert hospital homicide. Effective investigat ion can only take place if there is prompt recognition of circumstance s that justify suspicion about a death and immediate action is taken t o retrieve potentially vital evidence. The hospital itself must take r esponsibility for the detection of covert homicide. Confidence that su ch deaths will be uncovered by 'routine' investigation through the exi sting coroner system, including postmortem examination, is misplaced.