School: Business and Law

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Coronial Law and Mortuary Practice
  • Unit Code

    LAW3600
  • Year

    2017
  • Enrolment Period

    1
  • Version

    1
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
  • Unit Coordinator

    Dr Michael Gerard CROWLEY

Description

This unit is a co-operative teaching unit between the School of Law and Justice and the School of Exercise, Biomedical and Health Sciences. The law component involves an outline of the history of coronial law, the role and function of the Office of Coroner in today's society and a detailed study of the law and procedure of the Coroners Court. The science component will cover the administration of and the practical aspects of running a mortuary facility at a level appropriate to undertake coronial investigations. These will include documentation procedures, cadaver preparation, autopsy facilitation and specimen collection.

Prerequisite Rule

Students must pass 180 credit points

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Demonstrate a detailed knowledge of Coronial Law and procedure.
  2. Demonstrate cadaver preparation before and after medical (autopsy) examination.
  3. Discuss the history of Coroners Courts and relate that history to modern day practices.
  4. Discuss the implication of public safety decisions/warnings made by the Coroner.
  5. Explain the relationship between practices in the Coroners Court and practices in Criminal and Civil Courts arising out of decisions made by the Coroner.
  6. Facilitate an autopsy by undertaking organ removal, tabulation and their subsequent restoration.
  7. Receive and prepare documentation relating to autopsy reports, death certificates, cremation certificates and be able to liaise with the funeral industry.
  8. Undertake specimen collection and preservation from cadavers, before, during and after autopsy examination.

Unit Content

  1. Autopsy procedures including methods of evisceration, organ and tissue removal.
  2. Coronial Law.
  3. Current documentation procedures relating to coronial investigations, including appropriate certifications and forensic databases.
  4. Occupational health and safety regulations, including basic and specialist hygiene and cleansing methods.
  5. Principles underpinning the role of the Coroner in society.
  6. The history and practices of Coroners Courts.
  7. The practice and procedure of Coronial Law.
  8. Tissue and fluid collection procedures and the appropriate, subsequent preservation methods.

Additional Learning Experience Information

This unit will be offered in on-campus mode and will involve the equivalent of a 3 hour contact commitment per week for a full semester. Some of the unit will involve a class contact commitment of 2 hours of lectures and 1 hour of tutorial per week while the rest will involve a substantial component of practical work.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
AssignmentResearch Paper or Case Study.20%
Laboratory WorkOngoing Practical Skill Assessment.30%
Tutorial PresentationParticipation in laboratory work and tutorials.10%
ExaminationWritten.40%

Core Reading(s)

  • Sheaff, M. T. H., & D. J. (2004). Post mortem technique handbook. (2nd ed.). New York: Springer.

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

LAW3600|1|1

School: Business and Law

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Coronial Law and Mortuary Practice
  • Unit Code

    LAW3600
  • Year

    2017
  • Enrolment Period

    2
  • Version

    1
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
  • Unit Coordinator

    Dr Michael Gerard CROWLEY

Description

This unit is a co-operative teaching unit between the School of Law and Justice and the School of Exercise, Biomedical and Health Sciences. The law component involves an outline of the history of coronial law, the role and function of the Office of Coroner in today's society and a detailed study of the law and procedure of the Coroners Court. The science component will cover the administration of and the practical aspects of running a mortuary facility at a level appropriate to undertake coronial investigations. These will include documentation procedures, cadaver preparation, autopsy facilitation and specimen collection.

Prerequisite Rule

Students must pass 180 credit points

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Demonstrate a detailed knowledge of Coronial Law and procedure.
  2. Demonstrate cadaver preparation before and after medical (autopsy) examination.
  3. Discuss the history of Coroners Courts and relate that history to modern day practices.
  4. Discuss the implication of public safety decisions/warnings made by the Coroner.
  5. Explain the relationship between practices in the Coroners Court and practices in Criminal and Civil Courts arising out of decisions made by the Coroner.
  6. Facilitate an autopsy by undertaking organ removal, tabulation and their subsequent restoration.
  7. Receive and prepare documentation relating to autopsy reports, death certificates, cremation certificates and be able to liaise with the funeral industry.
  8. Undertake specimen collection and preservation from cadavers, before, during and after autopsy examination.

Unit Content

  1. Autopsy procedures including methods of evisceration, organ and tissue removal.
  2. Coronial Law.
  3. Current documentation procedures relating to coronial investigations, including appropriate certifications and forensic databases.
  4. Occupational health and safety regulations, including basic and specialist hygiene and cleansing methods.
  5. Principles underpinning the role of the Coroner in society.
  6. The history and practices of Coroners Courts.
  7. The practice and procedure of Coronial Law.
  8. Tissue and fluid collection procedures and the appropriate, subsequent preservation methods.

Additional Learning Experience Information

This unit will be offered in on-campus mode and will involve the equivalent of a 3 hour contact commitment per week for a full semester. Some of the unit will involve a class contact commitment of 2 hours of lectures and 1 hour of tutorial per week while the rest will involve a substantial component of practical work.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
AssignmentResearch Paper or Case Study.20%
Laboratory WorkOngoing Practical Skill Assessment.30%
Tutorial PresentationParticipation in laboratory work and tutorials.10%
ExaminationWritten.40%

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

LAW3600|1|2