Family’s anger as coroner orders invasive autopsy

THE ADATH Yisroel Burial Society has criticised the Senior Coroner of Inner North London, Mary Hassell, for ordering the invasive post-mortem of a Jewish man.

The man, who is understood to have been a member of the United Synagogue, died on Wednesday last week.

The family had turned to Asserson Law Offices to prevent the procedure but ultimately decided not to go ahead with a legal challenge.

The AYBS, which led a successful legal challenge against Ms Hassell over her “taxi rank” policy of not prioritising deaths to meet the deceased’s religious needs, said an alternative method such as a scan could have been used to determine the cause of death rather than cutting into the body.

Rabbi Asher Gratt, of the AYBS, said the coroner “appeared to be repeating past mistakes” and was “obstinate” in not granting the family’s wishes.

Four years ago the High Court ruled that Ms Hassell had erred in not respecting a Jewish family’s request to arrange a non-invasive autopsy.

Last year the court ruled against her for not taking into account requests to release bodies early for burial for religious reasons.

Rabbi Gratt said: “We are becoming increasingly concerned that bereaved families are suffering due to Ms Hassell’s rigid and uncompassionate stance. She is once again bringing the coronial profession into disrepute.”

He added: “The family has decided not to take action against Ms Hassell but we will not let Ms Hassell get away with unlawful conduct and are exploring the possibilities of further action.”

The coroner was approached for comment.

The coroner appears to be repeating mistakes’