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In Nunavut, an inquest must be held in all cases where a person dies while held in custody, for example, in a jail, under Mental Health Act or correctional facility. These inquests are mandatory. The only time that an inquest would not be held in these cases is where the person died from natural causes, i.e., natural diseases, and the death is not preventable.

In other instances of sudden, unexpected or unnatural death, the Chief Coroner may decide to hold an inquest. These discretionary inquests may be held for one or more of the following reasons: