10 (1) Every person who has reason to believe that a deceased person died, (a)  as a result of, (i)  violence, (ii)  misadventure, (iii)  negligence, (iv)  misconduct, or (v)  malpractice; (b)  by unfair means; (c)  during pregnancy or following pregnancy in circumstances that might reasonably be attributable thereto; (d)  suddenly and unexpectedly; (e)  from disease or sickness for which he or she was not treated by a legally qualified medical practitioner; (f)  from any cause other than disease; or (g)  under such circumstances as may require investigation, shall immediately notify a coroner or a police officer of the facts and circumstances relating to the death, and where a police officer is notified he or she shall in turn immediately notify the coroner of such facts and circumstances. R.S.O. 1990, c. C.37, s. 10 (1); 2018, c. 3, Sched. 6, s. 4 (1). Deaths to be reported (2) Where a person dies while resident or an in-patient in, (a)  Repealed: 2007, c. 8, s. 201 (1). (b)  a children’s residence under Part IX (Residential Licensing) of the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017 or premises that had been approved under subsection 9 (1) of Part I (Flexible Services) of the Child and Family Services Act, as it read before its repeal; (c)  Repealed:  1994, c. 27, s. 136 (1). (d)  a supported group living residence or an intensive support residence under the Services and Supports to Promote the Social Inclusion of Persons with Developmental Disabilities Act, 2008; (e)  a psychiatric facility designated under the Mental Health Act; (f)  Repealed:  2009, c. 33, Sched. 18, s. 6. (g)  Repealed:  1994, c. 27, s. 136 (1). (h)  a public or private hospital to which the person was transferred from a facility, institution or home referred to in clauses (a) to (g), the person in charge of the hospital, facility, institution, residence or home shall immediately give notice of the death to a coroner, and the coroner shall investigate the circumstances of the death and, if as a result of the investigation he or she is of the opinion that an inquest ought to be held, the coroner shall hold an inquest upon the body.  R.S.O. 1990, c. C.37, s. 10 (2); 1994, c. 27, s. 136 (1); 2001, c. 13, s. 10; 2007, c. 8, s. 201 (1); 2008, c. 14, s. 50; 2009, c. 15, s. 6 (1); 2009, c. 33, Sched. 8, s. 11; 2009, c. 33, Sched. 18, s. 6; 2017, c. 14, Sched. 4, s. 8 (1). Deaths in long-term care homes (2.1) Where a person dies while resident in a long-term care home to which the Fixing Long-Term Care Act, 2021 applies, the person in charge of the home shall immediately give notice of the death to a coroner and, if the coroner is of the opinion that the death ought to be investigated, he or she shall investigate the circumstances of the death and if, as a result of the investigation, he or she is of the opinion that an inquest ought to be held, the coroner shall hold an inquest upon the body.  2007, c. 8, s. 201 (2); 2009, c. 15, s. 6 (3); 2021, c. 39, Sched. 2, s. 5. Deaths off premises of psychiatric facilities, correctional institutions, youth custody facilities (3) Where a person dies while, (a)  a patient of a psychiatric facility; (b)  committed to a correctional institution; (c)  committed to a place of temporary detention under the Youth Criminal Justice Act (Canada); or (d)  committed to secure or open custody under section 24.1 of the Young Offenders Act (Canada), whether in accordance with section 88 of the Youth Criminal Justice Act (Canada) or otherwise, but while not on the premises or in actual custody of the facility, institution or place, as the case may be, subsection (2) applies as if the person were a resident of an institution named in subsection (2).  2009, c. 15, s. 6 (4). Death on premises of lock-up (4) Where a person dies while detained in and on the premises of a lock-up, the officer in charge of the lock-up shall immediately give notice of the death to a coroner and the coroner shall hold an inquest upon the body. 2019, c. 1, Sched. 6, s. 4 (1). Death on premises of place of temporary detention (4.1) Where a person dies while committed to and on the premises of a place of temporary detention under the Youth Criminal Justice Act (Canada), the officer in charge of the place shall immediately give notice of the death to a coroner and the coroner shall hold an inquest upon the body.  2009, c. 15, s. 6 (4). Death on premises of place of secure custody (4.2) Where a person dies while committed to and on the premises of a place or facility designated as a place of secure custody under section 24.1 of the Young Offenders Act
(Canada), whether in accordance with section 88 of the Youth Criminal Justice Act (Canada) or otherwise, the officer in charge of the place or facility shall immediately give notice of the death to a coroner and the coroner shall hold an inquest upon the body.  2009, c. 15, s. 6 (4). Death on premises of correctional institution (4.3) Where a person dies while committed to and on the premises of a correctional institution, the officer in charge of the institution shall immediately give notice of the death to a coroner and the coroner shall investigate the circumstances of the death and shall hold an inquest upon the body if as a result of the investigation he or she is of the opinion that the person may not have died of natural causes.  2009, c. 15, s. 6 (4). Note: On a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor, subsection 10 (4.3) of the Act is repealed and the following substituted: (See: 2018, c. 6, Sched. 3, s. 6 (1)) Death relating to correctional institution (4.3) Where a person dies while, (a)  committed to and on the premises of a correctional institution; (b)  committed to a correctional institution and off the premises of the institution but in the actual custody of a person employed at the institution; or (c)  at a hospital after having been transferred to the hospital by the correctional institution, the officer in charge of the correctional institution, or, in the case of clause (c), the person in charge of the hospital, shall immediately give notice of the death to a coroner and the coroner shall investigate the circumstances of the death and shall, (d)  hold an inquest upon the body if as a result of the investigation the coroner is of the opinion that the person may not have died of natural causes; or (e)  review the death in accordance with any process that is set out in a written direction from the Chief Coroner if as a result of the investigation the coroner is of the opinion that the person died of natural causes. 2018, c. 6, Sched. 3, s. 6 (1). Non-application of subs. (4.3) (4.4) If a person dies in circumstances referred to in subsection (4), (4.1) or (4.2) on the premises of a lock-up, place of temporary detention or place or facility designated as a place of secure custody that is located in a correctional institution, subsection (4.3) does not apply.  2009, c. 15, s. 6 (4). Death in custody off premises of correctional institution (4.5) Where a person dies while committed to a correctional institution, while off the premises of the institution and while in the actual custody of a person employed at the institution, the officer in charge of the institution shall immediately give notice of the death to a coroner and the coroner shall investigate the circumstances of the death and shall hold an inquest upon the body if as a result of the investigation he or she is of the opinion that the person may not have died of natural causes.  2009, c. 15, s. 6 (4). Note: On a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor, subsection 10 (4.5) of the Act is repealed. (See: 2018, c. 6, Sched. 3, s. 6 (2)) Other deaths in custody (4.6) A peace officer shall immediately give notice of a death to a coroner if, (a)  a person dies while detained by or in the actual custody of the peace officer, or an injury sustained or other event that occurred while the person was detained by or in the actual custody of the peace officer is a cause of the death; and (b)  subsections (4), (4.1), (4.2), (4.3) and (4.5) do not apply. 2018, c. 3, Sched. 6, s. 4 (3). Note: On a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor, clause 10 (4.6) (b) of the Act is amended by striking out “subsections (4), (4.1), (4.2), (4.3) and (4.5)” at the beginning and substituting “subsections (4), (4.1), (4.2) and (4.3)”. (See: 2018, c. 6, Sched. 3, s. 6 (3)) Use of force (4.6.1) A police officer, auxiliary member of a police force, special constable or First Nations Constable shall immediately give notice of a death to a coroner if, (a)  the use of force by the police officer, auxiliary member, special constable or First Nations Constable is a cause of the death; and (b)  subsections (4), (4.1), (4.2), (4.3) and (4.5) do not apply. 2018, c. 3, Sched. 6, s. 4 (4). Note: On a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor, clause 10 (4.6.1) (b) of the Act is amended by striking out “subsections (4), (4.1), (4.2), (4.3) and (4.5)” at the beginning and substituting “subsections (4), (4.1), (4.2) and (4.3)”. (See: 2018, c. 6, Sched. 3, s. 6 (4)) Note: On a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor, subsection 10 (4.6.1) of the Act is amended by striking out “police force” in the portion before clause (a) and substituting “police service” and striking out “First Nations Constable” wherever it appears and substituting in each case “First Nation Officer”. (See: 2019, c. 1, Sched. 6, s. 4 (2)) Coroner to investigate and hold inquest (4.6.2) A coroner shall investigate the circumstances of a death and hold an inquest upon the body if the coroner receives a notice that, (a)  the person died while detained by or in the actual custody of a peace officer; (b)  an injury sustained or other event that occurred while the person was detained by or in the actual custody of a peace officer was a cause of the death; or (c)  the use of force by a police officer, auxiliary member of a police force, special constable or First Nations Constable was a cause of the person’s death. 2018, c. 3, Sched. 6, s. 4 (6). Note: On a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor, clause 10 (4.6.2) (c) of the Act is repealed and the following substituted: (See: 2019, c. 1, Sched. 6, s. 4 (3)) (c)  the use of force by a police officer, auxiliary member of a police service, special constable or First Nation Officer was a cause of the person’s death. Other deaths if SIU is investigating (4.6.3) If the Special Investigations Unit Director causes an investigation to be conducted into an incident in which the death of a person has occurred other than an incident described in subsection (4.6.2), the Chief Coroner shall ensure that a coroner investigates the circumstances of the death. 2019, c. 1, Sched. 6, s. 4 (5). Death while restrained on premises of psychiatric facility, etc. (4.7) Where a person dies while being restrained and while detained in and on the premises of a psychiatric facility within the meaning of the Mental Health Act or a hospital within the meaning of Part XX.1 (Mental Disorder) of the Criminal Code (Canada), the officer in charge of the psychiatric facility or the person in charge of the hospital, as the case may be, shall immediately give notice of the death to a coroner and the coroner shall hold an inquest upon the body.  2009, c. 15, s. 6 (4). Death while restrained in secure treatment program (4.8) Where a person dies while being restrained and while committed or admitted to a secure treatment program within the meaning of Part VII of the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017, the person in charge of the program shall immediately give notice of the death to a coroner and the coroner shall hold an inquest upon the body. 2017, c. 14, Sched. 4, s. 8 (2). Notice of death resulting from accident at or in construction project, mining plant or mine (5) Where a worker dies as a result of an accident occurring in the course of the worker’s employment at or in a construction project, mining plant or mine, including a pit or quarry, the person in charge of such project, mining plant or mine shall immediately give notice of the death to a coroner and the coroner shall hold an inquest upon the body.  R.S.O. 1990, c. C.37, s. 10 (5); 2009, c. 15, s. 6 (5). Certificate as evidence (6) A statement as to the notification or non-notification of a coroner under this section, purporting to be certified by the coroner is without proof of the appointment or signature of the coroner, receivable in evidence as proof, in the absence of evidence to the contrary of the facts stated therein for all purposes in any action, proceeding or prosecution.  R.S.O. 1990, c. C.37, s. 10 (6). Section Amendments with date in force (d/m/y) 1994, c. 27, s. 136 (1, 2) - 01/03/1995 2001, c. 13, s. 10 - 30/11/2001 2006, c. 19, Sched. D, s. 4 (1, 2) - 22/06/2006 2007, c. 8, s. 201 (1, 2) - 01/07/2010 2008, c. 14, s. 50 - 01/01/2011 2009, c. 15, s. 6 (1, 2, 4, 5) - 27/07/2009; 2009, c. 15, s. 6 (3) - 01/07/2010; 2009, c. 33, Sched. 8, s. 11 - 01/01/2011; 2009, c. 33, Sched. 18, s. 6 - 15/12/2009 2017, c. 14, Sched. 4, s. 8 (1, 2) - 30/04/2018; 2017, c. 25, Sched. 9, s. 91 (1, 2) - no effect - see 2023, c. 4, Sched. 1, s. 67 - 18/05/2023 2018, c. 3, Sched. 6, s. 4 (1) - 08/03/2018; 2018, c. 3, Sched. 6, s. 4 (2, 5, 7, 8) - no effect - 2019, c. 1, Sched. 6, s. 12
- 26/03/2019; 2018, c. 3, Sched. 6, s. 4 (3, 4, 6) - 30/04/2018; 2018, c. 6, Sched. 3, s. 6 (1-4) - not in force 2019, c. 1, Sched. 6, s. 4 (1, 4) - 26/03/2019; 2019, c. 1, Sched. 6, s. 4 (2, 3) - not in force; 2019, c. 1, Sched. 6, s. 4 (5) - 01/12/2020 2021, c. 39, Sched. 2, s. 5 - 11/04/2022