More doctors seeking legal support at inquests, organisation says

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By Erin Dean

The number of doctors seeking legal support for inquests has more than doubled over the last decade, a medical defence organisation has said.

More than 2,500 doctors asked for medico-legal support in 2025, compared with just over 1,120 in 2015, according to the Medical Defence Union (MDU).

Cases increased sharply from 2018, the organisation said.

Despite a decrease in the number of deaths reported to coroners last year, government figures show that the proportion of deaths resulting in an inquest increased from 21% in 2024 to 24% in 2025.

GPs accounted for over 60% of requests for support in 2025, while most of the other cases came from doctors working in hospitals.

'Daunting and time consuming'

There has been an increase in GP practices being designated as Interested Persons, which means they have the right to participate in proceedings, the MDU said. This leads them to request representation.

The MDU encouraged clinicians to get medico-legal support early in the process to “reduce stress and minimise the risk of complications”.