Death Pronouncement

Death Pronouncement

Ensure death by doing ALL the following……..

• • ensure no response to vocal and pain stimuli.

  • ensure that pupils are fixed and dilated.

  • ensure that conjunctival and corneal reflexes are absent.

  • ensure that gag reflex is absent.

  • ensure there are no spontaneous movements.

  • ensure there are no breathing movements.

  • ensure there are no heart and breath sounds.

  • ensure there are no pulses palpable.

  • note the time.

  • DOCUMENT ALL OF THE ABOVE in the chart

  • inform the attending and document that you informed the attending.

  • call the family and ask them to come to the hospital ASAP. Please don’t tell them of the death over the telephone. Say something to the effect of, "your family member’s condition has taken a turn. Please come to the hospital as soon as possible."

  • document that you called the family.

  • once the family arrives, tactfully inform them of the death. Ask them if they would like a Pastor present. Ask them if they would be interested in an autopsy. Ask them if they would be interested in organ donation (if so, double witnessed signatures are required and fill out the autopsy clinical information form for the pathologist).

  • document that you asked the family about autopsy and organ procurement.

  • if patient died within 24 hours of admission or if foul play is suspected, call the medical examiner (313-833-2569) right away (open 24 hrs a day) after pronouncement. Once you present the case to the examiner, document with whom you spoke, the case ID number, what the examiner decided to do with the body

    • (e.g…..release it to the family, accepted for autopsy…etc….)