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Brain death. Actions for this page Listen Print. Summary Read the full fact sheet. On this page. Signs of brain death Brain death is not the same as coma Brain death - anguish for the family Brain death and organ donation Where to get help Things to remember. The person shows no reaction to pain. There is no gagging reflex when the back of the throat is touched. An electroencephalogram test shows no brain activity at all. If the death seems likely to happen in a facility, such as a hospital or nursing home , discuss any important customs or rituals with the staff early on, if possible.
That will allow them to plan so you can have the appropriate time with the body. Some families want time to sit quietly with the body, console each other, and maybe share memories. You could ask a member of your religious community or a spiritual counselor to come. If you have a list of people to notify, this is the time to call those who might want to come and see the body before it is moved. As soon as possible, the death must be officially pronounced by someone in authority like a doctor in a hospital or nursing facility or a hospice nurse.
This person also fills out the forms certifying the cause, time, and place of death. These steps will make it possible for an official death certificate to be prepared. This legal form is necessary for many reasons, including life insurance and financial and property issues. If the person was in hospice , a plan for what happens after death will already be in place.
If death happens at home without hospice, try to talk with the doctor, local medical examiner coroner , your local health department, or a funeral home representative in advance about how to proceed. They might cough, but not very deeply. Some people have a burst of energy in the 24 hours before they die, sitting up and talking normally for a short period. They can become paler or greyer or their skin can become mottled.
With the loss of oxygen to their brain, they might become vague and sleepy. Some become unconscious a few days before they die. Someone who is close to death will spend most of the time asleep. They may not be able to communicate when they are awake because their senses are failing.
However, they may still be able to hear, so speak to them normally. In the hours before death, most people fade as the blood supply to their body declines further. They sleep a lot, their breathing becomes very irregular, and their skin becomes cool to the touch.
Most people are very calm at this time, although some may be agitated, especially if they are finding it hard to breathe. In time, the heart stops and they stop breathing. Within a few minutes, their brain stops functioning entirely and their skin starts to cool. At this point, they have died.
You might feel all sorts of emotions, from grief that they are gone to relief that their pain is over, and any number of emotions in between. If the death occurs in a hospital, nursing home or hospice, then the facility will take care of all the initial next steps for you.
Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content. When the person is dying, you will be seeking to provide comfort and continue care. There will be practical things to do but taking the time to just be with the person can also be important. Read more on CarerHelp website. It may be difficult — maybe even a little painful — to talk about these things, but it can feel good to share your feelings. It's important to talk about any fears you may have instead of hiding them or pretending you aren't scared.
The people who love you want to know you're having these feelings so they can help. Did you know you can also help the grownups around you when they're sad that someone has died? Can you remember a funny story about the person who died? Or something nice that person did for you? Tell the good stories you remember out loud. They will make everyone feel a little better.
There are many things about death we do not know and may never know. We do know that it will happen, someday, to all of us. But you should not worry or wonder about it for very long. There are too many wonderful things to experience in the many, many years ahead. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. When — and How — Does It Happen? Where Do Dead People Go?
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