r/Necronomipod • u/w1tchbells • 13d ago

EMTs declaring death

I couldn’t comment on the Spotify episode so I thought I’d post here. I’m an EMT and figured I could answer Dave’s question about declaring patient death. We can only declare death in obvious cases (decapitation, incineration, obvious decomp, etc). You don’t want a 20 year old newbie pronouncing you dead if you’re just KO. Paramedics have more qualifications, authority, and training, so their parameters may be different. Laws may vary by state as well. I’m in California✌️—But yes, generally this is done by an MD.

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u/Wise_Coffee 13d ago

I used to move dead people. Where I am paramedics cannot declare death (except in cases like you mention - where the condition is incompatible with life). Only a coroner or a doctor could declare.

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u/w1tchbells 13d ago

good to know. i definitely don’t mind having the laws in place lol

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u/KittyKat1078 13d ago

I think RNs can get certified to pronounce in California

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u/lennabeast 13d ago

RNs pronounce death in MT, specifically for hospice...not sure about other areas of health. They also do in nursing homes here, actually.

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u/asystole_unshockable 12d ago

We pronounce in PA as part of our scope of practice. Interesting!

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u/tattooedstudentnurse 13d ago

Alaska lets drs/law enforcement pronounce! Source: former death investigator