Death examination

Definition

• Cardiovascular, respiratory, and neurological arrest

Management

• Identify patient
• Confirm death
  • Attempt to rouse patient
  • Confirm cardiovascular arrest
    • Monitored: 5 minutes of asystole
    • Non-monitored: absent heart sounds and carotid pulse
  • Confirm respiratory arrest
    • Look, listen, and feel for respirations
  • Confirm neurological death
    • Assess pupil size and absence of corneal reflex
• Document time that examination is completed
• Arrange the patient unless it is a coroner's case
• Inform the family
  • Ask about autopsy and organ donation
• Document examination in chart, including that next of kin was informed
• Fill out paperwork
• Call coroner if
  • Coroner's case if manner of death is not natural
    • Accident or trauma
    • Suicide
    • Homicide
    • Unexplained
  • Autopsy is requested
  • You are unsure
• Dictate a note CC'ed to the family physician