Indications patient is progressing to dying phase:

• rapid progression of disease or co-morbid condition
• greatly reduced mobility
• increased frailty
• accumulated complications of treatments, e.g. dialysis
• infections becoming less responsive to treatment

The following signs are commonly recognised clinical signs used when verifying death.

• Absence of a carotid pulse over one minute.
• Absence of heart sounds over one minute.
• Absence of respiratory movements and breath sounds over one minute.
• Fixed, dilated pupils (unresponsive to bright lights).
• No response to a trapezius squeeze.

Assessment of cessation of the central pulse, cessation of heart sounds and cessation of respiratory progress should total five minutes

Steps

There is also no legal definition to confirm death in the UK.

However, it is generally accepted that confirming death consists of:

• Confirming the patients identity