ONLY DOCTORS OR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS/EXPERTS can answer this question. No guesses, please. This is a SERIOUS question.
2006-10-28 13:50:27 · 11 answers · asked by kikidrucker 1 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Other - Diseases
You have to have NO vital signs : no heart bea no breathing, no brain activity
2006-10-28 13:58:16 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Your breathing and heartbeat must have stopped. Having worked as a nurse in a nursing home, I personally look, listen and feel very closely for at the very least 3 or 4 mins with absolutely NO signs of life before telling the family the end has come. I've seen some very irratic heartbeats and breating in dying patients, and have had families call me to a bedside only for the patient to suddenly begin breathing again. Death can be deceiving, but once the heart and breathing have stopped, life ceases fairly quickly.
I stand corrected, I never stated I signed any death certificate. Only a medical examiner may do that, however I DID call in the family and would tell the family the end had come if they were there (and in a lot of cases they were) We would record on the patient's charts the time of death and witnesses, if any! In almost every case of death I witnessed while working in a nursing home a doctor was never called in to pronounce someone dead!!! The only time that MAY have occured (and I don't recall this) would have been if our staff physician happened to be in the building.
2006-10-28 20:57:49 · answer #2 · answered by ladyw900ldriver 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes... I'm a Doctor.
People will tell you "your heart stops beating" or "there is no brain activity" Both of these answers are wrong however. For someone to be pronounced dead is actually just that. A doctor must "call it" and make the pronouncement that all CPR/ELS must cease and "Pronounce" one dead. It really is that easy. Some doctors may try longer than others for certain reasons such as hypothermic condition drowning deaths, whereas others may call it sooner if it is obvious or believed that further actions will not cause resuscitation. Hope that helps.
2006-10-28 21:07:34 · answer #3 · answered by Magdalane 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No brain wave activity if there is doubt. Doubt can happen when a patient is left on a respirator and is legally considered dead without the respirator. The family has to make a decision whether to leave patient on respirator or not. A neurologist will come in and detect if there is any brain activity. If not, they can be declared legally dead. Most death certificates will state "heart failure." Seen this on lots of death certificates. My mother died of cancer but the death certificate stated "heart failure." Go figure. It is up to the physician pronouncing who is the only one who can make the call. Hope this helps.
2006-10-28 20:52:57 · answer #4 · answered by makeitright 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Just like being pregnant. You actually have to be dead!!!!! No brain activity, no respiration, etc. You get the picture. And if you think that only doctors or health professionals can ask this question, why in the world did you ask this question here? Have you ever heard of "brain dead?" Hello..........Mr. Potato Head!!!!!
2006-10-28 20:54:41 · answer #5 · answered by Virginia V 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
One is pronounced dead ONLY after there are NO bowel sounds, respirations or heart beat for minimal of 3 minutes.
2006-10-28 21:09:05 · answer #6 · answered by askmenicely1961 3 · 1⤊ 3⤋
I am not professional but I know it's
NO brain waves, (activity) detected= dead.
2006-10-28 20:54:07 · answer #7 · answered by DrVodka 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
To be considered legally dead you have no vitals.
2006-10-28 20:53:25 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
the lack of HEART BEAT, RESPIRATION, BRAIN ACTIVITY AND RESPONSE TO OUTSIDE STIMULUS MAKES YOU CLINICALLY DEAD
BEST ANSWER
2006-10-28 21:03:30 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
you have to be dead.
2006-10-28 20:52:48 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋