VERIFICATION OF DEATH PROCESS GUIDANCE (2016) DOCUMENT SUMMARY For some patients, death in the near future is inevitable and expected. In such cases it would seem reasonable for a non-medically trained accountable healthcare professional to verify their death. In this event a Registered Health Professional may confirm/verify life extinct, providing there is an explicit local procedure in place to allow such action, which includes guidance on when other authorities, e.g. police or the coroner should be informed prior to removal of the body. For others death is unexpected, however in these circumstances death can still be verified. In a sudden death / collapse, a resuscitation attempt must be undertaken. PURPOSE This procedure is designed to provide a framework in which Nurses work collaboratively to ensure safe and skilled verification of a death is patient’s undertaken 2.1 Who can verify death The verification of death is a clinical skill, which may be performed by Nurses employed by ………… they have received the identified training they are mindful of their professional responsibilities under: NMC (2008) The Code. Standards for conduct, performance and ethics for Nurses and Midwives, NMC (2009) Record keeping Guidance for Nurses and Midwives, Health Professional Council (2009) Guidance for Emergency Care Practitioners (ECP’s) with paramedic regulatory body registration. 3. SCOPE This procedure and its contents apply to all registered nurses employed at ………… For the purposes of this procedure expected death is defined as those patients who have commenced an End of Life Care Pathway (EoLCP) or where the decision has been made not to undertake Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (DNACPR) in the event of death. Verification of death can be performed by a Registered Nurse employed at …………. in all circumstances. However, the following circumstances will require further referrals to other agencies:
VERIFICATION OF DEATH PROCESS GUIDANCE (2016) DOCUMENT SUMMARY For some patients, death in the near future is inevitable and expected. In such cases it would seem reasonable for a non-medically trained accountable healthcare professional to verify their death. In this event a Registered Health Professional may confirm/verify life extinct, providing there is an explicit local procedure in place to allow such action, which includes guidance on when other authorities, e.g. police or the coroner should be informed prior to removal of the body. For others death is unexpected, however in these circumstances death can still be verified. In a sudden death / collapse, a resuscitation attempt must be undertaken. PURPOSE This procedure is designed to provide a framework in which Nurses work collaboratively to ensure safe and skilled verification of a patient’s death is undertaken 2.1 Who can verify death The verification of death is a clinical skill, which may be performed by Nurses employed by ………… they have received the identified training they are mindful of their professional responsibilities under: NMC (2008) The Code. Standards for conduct, performance and ethics for Nurses and Midwives, NMC (2009) Record keeping Guidance for Nurses and Midwives, Health Professional Council (2009) Guidance for Emergency Care Practitioners (ECP’s) with paramedic regulatory body registration. 3. SCOPE This procedure and its contents apply to all registered nurses employed at ………… For the purposes of this procedure expected death is defined as those patients who have commenced an End of Life Care Pathway (EoLCP) or where the decision has been made not to undertake Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (DNACPR) in the event of death. Verification of death can be performed by a Registered Nurse employed at …………. in all circumstances. However, the following circumstances will require further referrals to other agencies:
VODXguidance.docx