The provincial stipend to help Ontario hospitals cover the facilities costs of performing post-mortem examinations is increasing. Currently, a basic payment of $400 per case is allocated for the hospital’s cleaning, security and supply expenses when they conduct autopsies on behalf of the Ministry of the Solicitor General, but the Chief Coroner has discretion to raise that amount if “special circumstances” warrant it.

A pending regulation under Ontario’s Coroners Act will increase the base stipend to $700 per case. The 75 per cent increase will take effect as soon as the regulation is finalized and published.

“This regulatory amendment will provide increased stability and ensure that the hospitals can continue to perform post-mortem examinations for death investigations,” the accompanying analysis states.