Verification of Expected Death - For Registered Nurses / AHPs

Confirmation or verification of death is defined as deciding whether a person is actually deceased. Verification of death can be undertaken by a competent registered nurse in line with their employer’s policies to determine local agreements about the circumstances in which this can be done.

In contrast, certification of death is done by a registered medical practitioner.

 

Course Content:

• Introduction to verification of death

• Key definitions of the verification of death

• Professional and legal considerations

• Local policies and procedures

• Verification of expected death

• Verification of unexpected death

• Conditions unequivocally associated with death

• Procedure for verifying a death

• Clinical examination

• Care after death

• Documentation and record-keeping

• Role of the coroner and / or procurator fiscal

• Reporting to the health and safety executive