Diagnosis of death - Revision history

Rossdonaldson1: /* Disposition */

2026-03-25T20:18:42Z

Disposition

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:18, 25 March 2026
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	# Test brainstem reflexes, and demonstration they are absent		# Test brainstem reflexes, and demonstration they are absent
	# Apnea testing <ref>https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/pdf/10.1055/s-0036-1592317.pdf</ref>		# Apnea testing <ref>https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/pdf/10.1055/s-0036-1592317.pdf</ref>

			==Management==
			*See [[Death documentation]]

	==Disposition==		==Disposition==

Rossdonaldson1: /* See Also */

2026-03-25T20:18:19Z

Rossdonaldson1: /* Background */

2021-02-27T20:57:37Z

Background

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:57, 27 February 2021
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	==Background==		==Background==
	Patients frequently present to the emergency department in severe distress and expire, making diagnosis of death a critical skill for the EM physician. Pronouncing a patient dead has historically changed as medical technology has advanced, requiring more clarification. The definition or classification of death can also change based on the setting the patient is present in as well. For example in a mass casualty setting triaging a patient as "black" or dead, is done purely on the basis of responsiveness and spontaneous circulation and ventilation. <ref>Tintinalli's Emergency Medicine</ref>		*The definition or classification of death can also change based on the setting the patient is present in as well. For example in a mass casualty setting triaging a patient as "black" or dead, is done purely on the basis of responsiveness and spontaneous circulation and ventilation. <ref>Tintinalli's Emergency Medicine</ref>
	Interestingly there is not much training within medical education about pronouncing patients early in medical training, where one study cites only 30% of new interns know what is needed for pronunciation. <ref>https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16594435</ref>		*Note there is a distinction between pronouncing and ''certifying'' death. The former means assessing the patient and diagnosing death, whereas certifying death typically involves stating the ''cause'' of death as well.
	~~There is also significant pressure and weight on getting this final diagnosis right, and so missing any other potential etiologies that may masquerade as death is high stakes.~~

	Note there is a distinction between pronouncing and ''certifying'' death. The former means assessing the patient and diagnosing death, whereas certifying death typically involves stating the ''cause'' of death as well.

	==Clinical Features==		==Clinical Features==

ClaireLewis: /* References */

2019-09-22T17:37:16Z

References

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	[[Category:Critical Care]]		[[Category:Critical Care]]
			[[Category:Palliative Medicine]]

ClaireLewis: /* Background */

2019-01-26T01:42:21Z

Background

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:42, 26 January 2019
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	There is also significant pressure and weight on getting this final diagnosis right, and so missing any other potential etiologies that may masquerade as death is high stakes.		There is also significant pressure and weight on getting this final diagnosis right, and so missing any other potential etiologies that may masquerade as death is high stakes.

	Note there is a distinction between pronouncing and '''certifying''' death. The former means assessing the patient and diagnosing death, whereas certifying death typically involves stating the '''cause''' of death as well.		Note there is a distinction between pronouncing and ''certifying'' death. The former means assessing the patient and diagnosing death, whereas certifying death typically involves stating the ''cause'' of death as well.

	==Clinical Features==		==Clinical Features==

ClaireLewis at 01:42, 26 January 2019

2019-01-26T01:42:01Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:42, 26 January 2019
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	Interestingly there is not much training within medical education about pronouncing patients early in medical training, where one study cites only 30% of new interns know what is needed for pronunciation. <ref>https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16594435</ref>		Interestingly there is not much training within medical education about pronouncing patients early in medical training, where one study cites only 30% of new interns know what is needed for pronunciation. <ref>https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16594435</ref>
	There is also significant pressure and weight on getting this final diagnosis right, and so missing any other potential etiologies that may masquerade as death is high stakes.		There is also significant pressure and weight on getting this final diagnosis right, and so missing any other potential etiologies that may masquerade as death is high stakes.

			Note there is a distinction between pronouncing and '''certifying''' death. The former means assessing the patient and diagnosing death, whereas certifying death typically involves stating the '''cause''' of death as well.

	==Clinical Features==		==Clinical Features==

Rossdonaldson1: /* Differential Diagnosis */

2017-10-31T12:56:42Z

Differential Diagnosis

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:56, 31 October 2017
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	==Differential Diagnosis==		==Differential Diagnosis==
	* Asystole		*[[Asystole]]
	* Brain ~~Death~~		* [[Brain death]]
	* PEA		* [[PEA]]
	* Drug overdose		* [[Drug overdose]]
	* Persistent Vegetative State		* Persistent Vegetative State
	* Hypothermia		* [[Hypothermia]]
	* Electrolyte ~~Derangement~~		* [[Electrolyte derangement]]
	* Hypotension		* [[Hypotension]]
	* Acidosis or Alkalosis		* [[Acidosis]] or [[Alkalosis]]

	==Evaluation==		==Evaluation==

Rossdonaldson1 at 12:56, 31 October 2017

2017-10-31T12:56:06Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:56, 31 October 2017
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	Interestingly there is not much training within medical education about pronouncing patients early in medical training, where one study cites only 30% of new interns know what is needed for pronunciation. <ref>https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16594435</ref>		Interestingly there is not much training within medical education about pronouncing patients early in medical training, where one study cites only 30% of new interns know what is needed for pronunciation. <ref>https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16594435</ref>
	There is also significant pressure and weight on getting this final diagnosis right, and so missing any other potential etiologies that may masquerade as death is high stakes.		There is also significant pressure and weight on getting this final diagnosis right, and so missing any other potential etiologies that may masquerade as death is high stakes.

			==Clinical Features==

	==Differential Diagnosis==		==Differential Diagnosis==

Rossdonaldson1: /* See Also */

2017-10-31T12:55:40Z

Rossdonaldson1: /* Further Reading */

2017-10-31T12:55:29Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:18, 25 March 2026
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	==See Also==		==See Also==
			*[[Death documentation]
	*[[Post Cardiac Arrest]]		*[[Post Cardiac Arrest]]
	*[[Delivering bad news]]		*[[Delivering bad news]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:55, 31 October 2017
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	*[[Post Cardiac Arrest]]		*[[Post Cardiac Arrest]]
	*[[Delivering bad news]]		*[[Delivering bad news]]
	*[Brain death]]		*[[Brain death]]

	==Further Reading==		==Further Reading==

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:55, 31 October 2017
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	==Disposition==		==Disposition==
	Take care to acknowledge family needs.		Take care to acknowledge family needs.

			==See Also==
			*[[Post Cardiac Arrest]]
			*[[Delivering bad news]]
			*[Brain death]]

	==Further Reading==		==Further Reading==