Pronouncing a patient dead in a hospital seems relatively simple: palpate for lack of pulse, determine that the patient's neurological function is absent, then disclose, out loud, his or her full name and the time of death. Except it isn’t that simple at all—in the inpatient setting.
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Here’s my problem with this situation: when I pronounce a patient dead, neither I nor that person’s family (nor, frankly, the patient himself or herself) should be faced with uncertainties. I should know, for instance, what the definition of death is. I should also know how to medically determine when the patient is no longer alive. I’ll even settle for being certain that a person passed away at the actual time I pronounce it, but physicians and their patients aren’t even afforded that luxury.