Who is allowed to pronounce a death?

The correct answer is that an attending physician is allowed to pronounce a death. This is primarily because the attending physician has the medical knowledge and authority to determine when a person has died based on clinical criteria. They are responsible for assessing the patient's condition, utilizing their training to recognize the absence of vital signs, and documenting the death appropriately.

In most jurisdictions, only licensed medical professionals, such as physicians, have the legal authority to make a formal declaration of death. This process often involves the physician completing a death certificate, which is a critical document for legal and medical purposes following a person's passing.

While individuals such as registered nurses do have the training to recognize signs of death, they may not have the legal authority to pronounce death in all situations. Respecting the established protocols in healthcare and legal settings is important to ensure that such determinations are both valid and respected in legal terms. In contrast, funeral directors, although knowledgeable about post-death processes, are not typically authorized to pronounce death. Witnesses have no medical training and thus cannot make this call responsibly.