The Death Investigation Oversight Council administers a public complaints process through its Complaints Committee, which reviews complaints regarding death investigations against a coroner or a forensic pathologist working in the Province of Ontario.
Upon completion of a review, the Committee may provide recommendations to either the Chief Coroner or Chief Forensic Pathologist (or both) with a goal of improving Ontario’s death investigation system.
Families may use the DIOC complaint form to submit their complaint to the DIOC Secretariat.
Death Investigation Oversight Council Complaint Form
*If you experience difficulty opening the PDF complaints form, try using Internet Explorer as your browser.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Who can file a complaint?
Any person may make a complaint to the complaints committee about a coroner, a pathologist or a person, other than a coroner or pathologist, with powers or duties under the Coroners Act.
What types of complaints does the Complaints Committee have the authority to review?
The Complaints Committee is responsible for reviewing complaints regarding a coroner, pathologist or certain other persons referred to under the Coroners Act who have powers or duties for post-mortem examinations.
What types of complaints are out of scope and are not reviewed by the Complaints Committee?
Please note that DIOC’s Complaints Committee has no authority to review the following types of complaints:
Complaints about a coroner’s decision regarding:
- whether to hold an inquest,
- the scheduling of an inquest,
- the conduct of an inquest, or
- any decisions made during an inquest.
These matters are under the legislative authority of a coroner under the Coroners Act and the Chief Coroner has the sole authority under the legislation to make a final determination on such matters.
- Complaints that do not relate to a power or duty of a coroner or pathologist.
- Complaints that are trivial, vexatious or not made in good faith.
How can I file a complaint?
Complaints must be filed in writing. Arrangements to submit your supporting documentation should be made directly with the DIOC Secretariat, but usually involve submission by mail or email. DIOC encourages families to use the DIOC Complaint Form, which is located at the top of this page.
Information can be sent to the following address:
25 Grosvenor St, 15th Floor
Toronto, Ontario, M7A 1Y6
Email: dioc@ontario.ca
If you need accommodation under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) please call the number above or email DIOC. The Secretariat will be happy to work with you to submit a complaint to the Complaints Committee.
What documents are typically included in a complaint file?
DIOC will accept all documents that a complainant submits for review, but most often the complaint file includes (but is not limited to) the following:
- Autopsy reports
- Correspondence with OCC and OFPS personnel and other relevant correspondence
- Police reports, if any
- Coroner’s investigation narrative
- Death certificates
- Hospital records/medical records
If you need help obtaining these documents, please contact the Office of the Chief Coroner.
25 Morton Shulman Avenue, 2nd Floor Toronto ON M3M 0B1
Phone: 416-314-4000 / Toll-free 1-877-991- 9959
Email: occ.inquiries@ontario.ca
Before I submit a complaint is there anyone that I can talk to at DIOC about my concerns?
Prior to submitting complaint, you are welcome to contact the DIOC Secretariat if you have any questions or concerns. Please click the Contact Us tab for more information.
Does filing a complaint with the DIOC Complaints Committee interfere with complaints I have filed with other agencies?
No, there is no impact on the Complaint Committee’s review of your file.
On average, how long does the review of a complaint file take?
The amount of time required to review a complaint varies from case to case. It is based on the receipt of the required information for the complaint alongside various other factors. During the review process the DIOC Secretariat will answer any questions you have about the status of your complaint. You are welcome to contact the Secretariat at any time for updates.
Will you share my complaint information with the Office of the Chief Coroner or Ontario Forensic Pathology Service?
Yes. If you decide to file a complaint with the Complaints Committee, and if the Chief has yet to have a chance to respond, we will forward your complaint to the corresponding Chief. The Complaints Committee also shares the final result of a complaint review with the OCC or OFPS.
What will happen to my complaint once it is received?
Pursuant to the Coroners Act, if your complaint specifically concerns the Chief Coroner or Chief Forensic Pathologist, DIOC’s Complaints Committee will consider it directly.
The Committee must first refer complaints about a coroner to the Chief Coroner or a pathologist to the Chief Forensic Pathologist for an initial review, and they are required to share the results of that initial review with you. If you are unsatisfied with the results of that review, you should notify DIOC’s Complaints Committee in writing, and the Committee will consider your complaint at that time.
In addition to reviewing your complaint, the Complaints Committee may decide to refer it to another appropriate body (such as the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario), depending on the nature of the complaint. If that is the case, you will be notified.
How does the Committee review a complaint file?
In reviewing a complaint, the Committee considers the written complaint and all relevant documentation and submissions. The Committee does not conduct hearings, but may contact you to request further information or documents that may be relevant to the review.
In order to conduct a wholesome complaint review, the Complaints Committee will need all of your submissions prior to commencing their review.
What happens after a complaint file is reviewed?
Once the Committee finishes its review, a reporting letter will be sent to you outlining the results of the review and any recommendations (if made) to the Chief Coroner or Chief Forensic Pathologist.
Recommendations are typically geared towards improving the overall death investigation system for the province. DIOC’s recommendations are non-binding.
A copy of that letter will also be sent to the Chief Coroner and/or Chief Forensic Pathologist, and any other interested party as set out in the Coroners Act, such as the person who is the subject of the complaint, all members of DIOC and/or the Solicitor General.
Can I meet with the Complaints Committee in person?
Unfortunately, the Complaints Committee does not conduct hearings. They receive complaint files in full and review the information that is submitted in its entirety. If the Committee has a question concerning the information presented, they will ask for clarification through the DIOC Secretariat.
At times, complainants may request to meet with the DIOC Secretariat to take them through the information they are submitting to the Complaints Committee. These requests are dealt with on a case by case basis, but depending on the complexity of a complaint and the information being submitted, the Secretariat may arrange to discuss the matter in person or via telephone.