Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS)

Since April 2017, coroners no longer have a duty to undertake an inquest into the death of every person who was subject to an authorisation under the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (known as DoLS) under the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

The death of any person subject to a DoLS authorisation need not be reported to the coroner unless the cause of death is unknown or where there are concerns that the cause of death was unnatural or violent. This would include where there is any concern about the care given having contributed to the person's death.

Any person with any concerns about how or why someone has come to their death can contact the coroner directly. This does not change if a person was subject to a DoLS authorisation. The coroner is no longer duty-bound to investigate every death where the deceased had a DoLS in place.

• GOV.UK - Guide to coroner services and coroner investigations – a short guide

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