What Do Different Coroner's Conclusions Mean?

After investigating the circumstances of a death, the Coroner will reach a conclusion on what caused the death, and why. The options they can reach are limited to an Official list of Conclusions. You can find out more about the Inquest process in our dedicated inquest guide, but what do the different conclusions mean, and when might they be used?

Accident or misadventure

Whilst Accident and Misadventure are treated the same for statistical purposes they historically have slightly different meanings.  Misadventure is where someone doing something lawful unintentionally kills another.   The difference can be explained as accident reflecting death following an event over which there is no human control where as misadventure is an intended act but with unintended consequence.  In a medical context misadventure could reflect intended treatment with an unintended consequence.