Between epistemic injustice and therapeutic jurisprudence

Coronial processes involving families of autistic people, people with learning disabilities and/or mental ill health

Dados Bibliográficos

ID2250434
AutoresSara Ryan (0000-0002-7406-1610, Department of Social Care and Social Work Manchester Metropolitan University Manchester UK), Francesca Ribenfors (0000-0002-5012-4816, Department of Social Care and Social Work Manchester Metropolitan University Manchester UK, autor correspondente), Magdalena Mikulak (0000-0002-1519-7673, Faculty of Health and Medicine Lancaster University Lancaster UK), D Crystal Coles (0000-0002-3961-2237), Deborah Coles (INQUEST London UK)
Ano2025
Volume47
Fascículo2
Páginase13855-e13855
Data de publicação2025-02-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoSociology of Health & Illness (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0141-9889 • E-ISSN: 1467-9566
EditoraWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/1467-9566.13855
PMID39555897
OpenAlexW4404474101
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas2
Referências citadas57

Understanding how and why someone dies unexpectedly is key to bereaved family members. The coronial process in England investigates instances where the cause of death is unknown, violent or unnatural and/or occurred in state detention. Families are held to be at the centre of this process and the coroner's role has extended to concern about therapeutic jurisprudence, that is, how legal processes can minimise negative consequences for participants without jeopardising due process. Therapeutic jurisprudence involves unresolved tensions, however, and an epistemic power imbalance. Within the inquest, knowledge is produced, evaluated and contested, and epistemic privilege may be unevenly distributed. The inquest is also a process that, as we demonstrate, requires epistemic courage and resistance on the part of families. Families with relatives who are autistic, have learning disabilities and/or mental ill health can experience epistemic and structural injustice before an unexpected death which makes the distinctiveness of their experiences important to understand. Here, we report on a qualitative interview project which focused on how bereaved families experience the coronial process after their relative died in receipt of health and/or social care support

Injustice · Jurisprudence · Learning disability · Mental health · Mental illness · Political science · Psychiatry · Psychotherapist · Therapeutic jurisprudence · Disability Rights and Representation · Ethics and Legal Issues in Pediatric Healthcare · Feminist Epistemology and Gender Studies · Law · Psychology · Social Psychology