Death certification and consent Flashcards
When confirming death what are the criteria that must be confirmed and documented?
Pupils fixed and dilated (no response to light)
No breath sounds on auscultation (1 min)
No central pulse (1 min)
No heart sounds on ausculatation (1 min)
No response to painful stimulus (trap sqeeze)
What are the criteria for when you can fill out the death certificate?
Must have seen the patient in the last 14 days before or after death
Must have provided care in the last illness before death
Must be a registered medical practitioner
You must have knowledge or belief of the cause of death (discussed with consultant)
Must not meet criteria for referral to coroner
What are the sections of the cause of death section of a death certificate?
Ia) immediate cause of death Ib) condition leading to 1a Ic) condition leading to 1b II) other conditions contributing to death (but unrelated to the condition in part I) e.g. Ia) pulmonary thromboembolism Ib) deep vein thrombosis II) Metastatic prostate cancer
What are the cases to refer to the coroner?
In hospital <24 hours Suspicious circumstances Unexpected/unknown cause In custody Industrial deaths Any drugs involved Acute alcohol Following Accident/fall/violence Any blame Operation <1 year Unknown identity
Who is allowed to consent a patient for a procedure?
Must be someone who has full understanding of the procedure, risks, benefits and alternatives
What are the rules surrounding consent in 16-18 year olds?
They can consent but refusal or treatment can be overridden by parents
What are the rules for children under 16 regarding consent?
They can consent if they are conpetnet but not refuse treatment
What happens if a commpetent child refuses treatment or a clinician disagrees with a parent?
Emergency court decision
