33. (1) Subject to section 33A(3), a coroner may, for the purposes of inquiring into the death of a person, direct a registered medical practitioner to make a post-mortem examination of the body of the deceased person.

(2) Where a registered medical practitioner makes a post-mortem examination of the body of a deceased person under this section, section 33A or 33C, he or she shall do so under the direction of the coroner.

(3) Where a coroner has directed a registered medical practitioner under this section, section 33A or 33C to make a post-mortem examination of the body of a deceased person, he or she shall ensure, in so far as practicable, that a family member of the deceased person is informed of the fact and is informed that material may be removed from the body and retained for the purposes of a post-mortem examination or an inquest in relation to the death of the person.

(4) Where, in the opinion of the coroner, the report of a post-mortem examination furnished to him or her under section 33E shows that an inquest in relation to the death is not necessary, it shall not be obligatory upon him or her to hold an inquest.

(5) Nothing in this section shall authorise a coroner to dispense with holding an inquest in relation to the death of a person in circumstances to which section 17 applies.]