Canterbury DHB

Inpatient Deaths

These are outlined in the Resident Medical Officer's Handbook. This describes the process for:

• Notification of Death to the Coroner
• Death Certificate (BDM50)
• Cremation Forms
• Requisition for a clinical post-mortem

Medical Responsibility

When a patient dies, the nursing staff will contact the medical staff to arrange a physical examination to confirm the death. This examination should take place within two hours of being notified and must be recorded in the clinical notes.

It is very important to ensure that the family is aware of the death. The General Practitioner must be phoned on the next working day. Before the Notification of Death to the Coroner form is completed, the Haematologist must be notified of the death. The medical staff will be contacted by the Mortality Co-ordinator to complete the documentation for patients who die. During weekends the Duty Manager will contact the medical staff. In the case of deaths that occur overnight, the documentation is generally performed the following morning.

Note: The medical responsibilities are outlined in the Resident Medical Officer's Handbook. This guides the notification of death to the Coroner, the issuing of death certificates and cremation forms, the requisition for post mortem examinations, and the notification of deaths at Christchurch Hospital.

Nursing Staff Responsibility

Refer to the Nursing Procedures Manual, Volume F, Section 3, When a Patient Dies. Paper copies are available on each ward. This manual is currently under review, however.

In the event of death of an inpatient in Haematology, it is the responsibility of the appropriate registered nurse to:

• Record the fact and time of death in the clinical notes.
• Contact the Clinical Coordinator (page 5265) or arrange a house officer to confirm death. This examination must be documented in the clinical notes and must be completed within two hours of death.
• Notify the telephone office and update the PMS system immediately. This will ensure that the appropriate staff (i.e., Medical Co-ordinator or Duty Manager) are advised out of hours or over weekends.
• Contact the next-of-kin if they are not present at the time of death.
• Once the family has left, prepare the body to go to the Mortuary.
• Request the Orderly on the PMS system to take the deceased and the medical notes to the Mortuary (accompanied by the medical/nursing staff). If a death is unexpected, the Haematologist or the Haematology Registrar must be informed. If the Coroner or Police are to be informed, this must be discussed fully with the Haematologist first, as they will have the best understanding of the case.

Topic Code: 4658