Presenter: Gillian Mawdsley is a practising Scottish qualified solicitor. She is a Lecturer and tutor at the Open University, Edinburgh and Strathclyde Universities. She has a longstanding interest in the medico-legal aspects, as well as policy, in relation to death investigations including as a Fiscal Depute in the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) Deaths Unit in Scotland. 

Overview of presentation 
This presentation presents an overview of the reporting of sudden, unexpected, unexplained or accidental deaths in Scotland. There is a focus on the unique role in this area of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) and the operation of the Inquiries into Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths etc. (Scotland) Act 2016. In particular, consideration is given to the role of COPFS in discharging the State’s responsibility under Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights in undertaking an effective system of investigation into deaths.