posted 31st August 2025
This linked RCPath guidance provides good practice advice for medical examiners on recognising the impact of SCD in deaths, ensuring accurate certification, appropriate coroner referrals, and identifying opportunities for learning and service improvement.
SCD can significantly contribute to mortality through crises, infections, organ damage, and complications such as stroke or acute chest syndrome, and examiners are reminded of the importance of the value of specialist haematology input. Medical examiners are encouraged to actively consider whether SCD played a role in deaths, seek expert clinical advice, take account of family perspectives while being sensitive to stigma, and carefully determine when referral to the coroner is required under statutory obligations.
The document also provides context on SCD, outlines current treatments and survival outcomes, and directs readers to further resources from NICE, NHS, the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, and the Sickle Cell Society.
