Mr Horcicka died at Calvary St Luke's Hospital on September 26, 2016, as a result of a fractured cervical spine which he sustained when he fell at his home on August 16.

In findings released on Thursday, Coroner Simon Cooper was critical about the delay in reporting Mr Horcicka's death because to report as soon as possible could compromise investigations.

"Plainly, Mr Horcicka's death should have been reported much earlier than it was. The obligation to report is an important one," Coroner Cooper said.

"Coroners have a statutory obligation to investigate deaths, including those in a medical setting, and make, where appropriate, recommendations to prevent similar deaths occurring in the future."

Deaths that should be reported are unexpected, unnatural or violent or to have resulted directly or indirectly from an accident or injury; or that occurs during a medical procedure, or after a medical procedure where the death may be causally related to that procedure, and a medical practitioner would not, immediately before the procedure was undertaken, have reasonably expected the death.

An autopsy could not be conducted on Mr Horcicka because of the delay.

"Findings at autopsy are often crucial pieces of evidence," Coroner Cooper said.

"Failing to report a death as soon as possible can compromise any investigation."

Medical records showed Mr Horcicka felt severe pain between his shoulder blades when he fell at his home and tingling in his hands prior to his death.

A CT scan of the brain, cervical and thoracic spine was carried out at the Launceston General Hospital on the night of August 16.

Initially doctors believed there was no definite acute fracture of the cervical spine, with an occupational therapist standing up and sitting down Mr Horcicka.

"Actions which caused him a significant increase in pain," the report said.

An urgent review was conducted by the LGH medical team, revealing Mr Horcicka had a fracture of the C5-C6 intervertebral and facet joints.

"The circumstances in which Mr Horcicka sustained his original injury and the evidence of the treatment that he received leads to the conclusion that the fracture had been sustained when he fell at home," the report said.

"I am satisfied that the sitting down by the occupational therapist jarred Mr Horcicka's bones causing ligament disruption and separation and compression of his spinal cord."

Mr Horcicka had surgery at the Royal Hobart Hospital on August 24 and two days later was alert and speaking more clearly, but he developed pneumonia.

He returned to the LGH on August 31, but on September 14 a decision to treat palliatively was made with Mr Horcicka and his son.

Coroner Cooper didn't make any recommendations regarding Mr Horcicka's death, but made two comments.

"First, I comment that an MRI scan of the cervical spine is better at detecting ligamentous injury than a CT scan, a potentially critical consideration where an injury to the cervical spine is suspected of having been sustained, particularly in an elderly patient," he said.

"Second, I comment that the ability of coroners to effectively perform their functions under the Coroners Act 1995 is dependent upon the timely reporting of reportable deaths. The fact that Mr Horcicka's death was not reported until nearly 2 years after Mr Horcicka's death is not acceptable."