Editing Inquests in England and Wales (section)

==Verdict or conclusions==
The following conclusions (formerly called verdicts) are not mandatory but are strongly recommended:<ref>''Halsbury'' vol.9(2) '''1030'''</ref>
*'''Category 1'''
**[[Natural causes]]
**[[Industrial disease]]s
**Dependency on [[narcotics|drugs]] or non-dependent abuse of drugs
**Lack of attention at [[childbirth|birth]]
**Lack of care or self-neglect
*'''Category 2'''
**[[Suicide]]
**Attempted or self-induced [[abortion]]
**[[Accident]] or [[Death by misadventure|misadventure]]
**[[Capital punishment|Execution of sentence of death]]
**[[Lawful killing]] (formerly "justifiable homicide")
**[[Open verdict]] (cause of death unknown or unstated)
*'''Category 3''' – [[Unlawful killing]]
**[[Murder]]
**[[Manslaughter]]
**[[Infanticide]]
*'''Category 4'''
**[[Stillbirth]]

In 2004, 37% of inquests recorded an outcome of [[Death by misadventure|death by accident / misadventure]], 21% by natural causes, 13% suicide, 10% open verdicts, and 19% other outcomes.<ref name="dca"/>

Since 2004 it has been possible for the coroner to record a [[narrative verdict]], recording the circumstances of a death without apportioning blame or liability. Since 2009, other possible verdicts have included "alcohol/drug related death" and "[[road traffic collision]]".<ref name="cps.gov.uk">{{Cite web |title=Coroners {{!}} The Crown Prosecution Service |url=https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/coroners |access-date=2023-04-27 |website=www.cps.gov.uk}}</ref> The civil [[standard of proof]], on the [[balance of probabilities]], is used for all conclusions.<ref name="cps.gov.uk"/> The standard of proof for suicide and unlawful killing changed in 2018 from beyond all reasonable doubt to the balance of probabilities following a case in the courts of appeal.<ref name="cps.gov.uk"/>