⚠️ SUSPICIOUS FEATURES IDENTIFIED — DO NOT DISTURB SCENE — AWAIT POLICE
Unexpected Death
Police Handover Aid — NWAS Field Use
Before You Call
Work through this tool before dialling so you have everything ready. Police will ask these questions verbally — this generates a structured handover you can read directly.
Your role at an unexpected death
Confirm life extinct · Preserve scene · Gather history · Handover to police · Document on PRF
Patient details
Name (if known)
Approx age
Sex
Time of call
Full address / location
Verification of Death — JRCALC G0940 v1.12
Two distinct events — both times must be recorded
1. Time resuscitation terminated (or found with obvious signs of death)
2. Time of verified death — only after 5 minutes of confirmed continuous asystole
Resuscitation attempted and terminated
Obvious signs of death on arrival — resus not indicated
VoD cannot begin until the ECG has been in continuous asystole. If the rhythm has not deteriorated to asystole after stopping resus, wait a further 5 minutes and re-check before starting the timer.
Time resuscitation terminated
Time asystole confirmed on ECG
VoD procedures still required unless presentation is unequivocally decapitation, hemicorporectomy, massive cranial/cerebral destruction, or extensive bodily destruction (decomposition/incineration).
Hypostasis, rigor mortis, burns, and submersion still require the full ABCDE criteria to be carried out.
Time found / presented
Record the time you first assessed the patient and commenced VoD observation
Obvious sign(s) of death present
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Decomposition / putrefaction
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Decapitation
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Massive cranial / cerebral destruction
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Extensive bodily destruction / incineration
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Rigor mortisRequires full ABCDE criteria
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Hypostasis / livor mortisRequires full ABCDE criteria
Observe and examine the patient for a minimum of 5 minutes from onset of asystole before confirming death.
5-Minute Timer
5:00
Monitoring for continuous asystole
✓ 5-minute period elapsed
Proceed with ABCDE verification criteria below.
ABCDE Verification Criteria
Assess for minimum 5 minutes after onset of asystole. Tap each criterion when confirmed.
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A/B — Apnoea / Absent BreathingNo visible chest movement · No breath sounds on auscultation
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C — Absent CirculationNo central pulse on palpation · No heart sounds on auscultation with stethoscope (or cardiac USS if available)
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D — Disability / UnresponsiveGCS 3 — no response to stimuli
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E — ECG Asystole × 5 minutesContinuous asystole documented on ECG for minimum 5 minutes · If paper trace unavailable, screen diagnosis permissible — check electrode contact, gain, and use more than one lead if possible · If ECG unavailable, record rationale
ECG availability / rationale if not used
✓ All ABCDE criteria met
Death may now be confirmed. Record the time below.
Not all criteria confirmed yet — continue assessment.
Time of verified death
This is the time after 5 minutes of continuous asystole has elapsed and all ABCDE criteria are met — not the time resuscitation was stopped.
Time of verified death
Verified by
Complete VoD procedure before proceeding.
✓ Death verified and recorded
What Are Police Looking For?
When police receive a handover for an unexpected death, they are trying to make one critical decision:
Is there any possibility of third party involvement?
If no — they may not attend. GP certifies, Medical Examiner scrutinises, coroner decides if needed.
Is there any suspicion of third party involvement?
If yes — they must attend, secure the scene, and treat it as a potential crime scene from that point forward. A missed homicide at this stage cannot be recovered.
Their starting position is ABC: Assume nothing · Believe nobody · Challenge everything Every unexpected death is treated as suspicious until the investigation shows otherwise — not the other way around.
What Police Are Specifically Checking On Scene
The body
• Injuries or trauma — wounds, bruising, burns, ligature marks
• Whether injuries are consistent with the history given
• Position of the body — is it consistent with collapse or sleep?
• Postmortem changes — do they fit the timeline given?
The scene
• Signs of struggle, disorder, or disturbance
• Signs of break-in not accounted for
• Blood or body fluids inconsistent with natural death
• Weapons, implements, or ligatures present
• Drug paraphernalia or unknown substances
• Possible note (do not touch — leave for police)
• Alcohol present — quantity and context
• Whether any other bodies or persons are present or hiding
The history
• Does the caller's account make sense?
• Is the account consistent between witnesses?
• Last seen alive — does the timeline add up?
• Was the deceased vulnerable (disability, mental illness, domestic abuse)?
• Intelligence checks on deceased and address
• Any prior police contact at this address
Coroner Will Be Involved If (post Sept 2024)
• No doctor who ever attended the patient in life can be identified
• The attending doctor cannot establish cause of death to their satisfaction
• Death is violent, unnatural, or suspicious
• Death in custody or following police/state contact
• Death during or shortly after surgery or anaesthetic
• Industrial disease or work-related injury suspected
• Death of a child
• Any circumstance where the Medical Examiner deems referral appropriate
⚠ The old "14-day rule" no longer applies. Since 9 September 2024, any doctor who attended the patient at any point in their lifetime can complete the MCCD — there is no minimum recency requirement.
Likely No Police Attendance If
• Known terminal illness — death expected and GP or hospital aware
• DNACPR or advance care plan in place and verified
• A doctor who attended in life can certify cause of death
• Scene, body, and history are all entirely consistent with each other
• No suspicious features, no signs of third party involvement
• No vulnerability concerns, no safeguarding issues
• Medical Examiner review will follow through normal pathway
What Police Are NOT Doing
• They are not certifying death — that is your role
• They are not diagnosing cause of death — that is the doctor and Medical Examiner
• They are not there to complete the MCCD
• They are making a scene and circumstances assessment only
• Their decision to attend or not attend is based solely on whether third party involvement can be ruled out
Your job is not to determine cause of death or judge the scene.
Report exactly what you found — factually and objectively. Do not interpret, speculate, or reassure the police that it looks natural. Let them make that call from the information you give them.
Scene Assessment
Tap each item that applies. Red items are potential flags for the police.
Scene preservation — Touch only what was clinically necessary. Do not move the body, disturb surfaces, or remove property unless required for patient care. Note anything you did move.
Access to the property
Unlocked / open access (door open, let in by family)
Forced entry (by fire service, police, or ambulance crew)
Entry by neighbour / keyholder
Unknown / unclear how entry was gained
Body position / discovery
In bed / chair — position consistent with collapse or sleep
On floor — likely fall, no other concerns
Unusual or unexplained position
Outdoors / public place
Scene condition
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Scene appears normal and undisturbed
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🚩 Signs of disorder or disturbanceFurniture overturned, items scattered, signs of struggle
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🚩 Signs of forced entry not accounted forBroken locks, smashed windows, damage to door frames
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🚩 Blood or body fluids not explained by medical conditionSplatter, volume, distribution inconsistent with natural death
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🚩 Weapon or implement presentKnife, ligature, firearm, blunt object
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🚩 Drug paraphernalia presentNeedles, foil, powder, drug containers
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Prescribed medications visible — consistent with history
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🚩 Possible note presentDo not read or move — leave for police
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🚩 External injury visibleWounds, bruising, marks on skin not explained by clinical history
Injury findings
Postmortem changes
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Rigor mortis presentStiffening of muscles — suggests death several hours prior
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Livor mortis (lividity) presentFixed purple discolouration of dependent skin
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Decomposition evidentDocument and report to police — may affect time of death estimation
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Body cool to touch
Patient History
Gather from family, carers, neighbours, medication, or medical records on scene.
Last seen alive
Last seen alive (time)
Date
Last seen alive by whom
Was death expected?
Yes — known terminal illness, death expected
Partially — significant illness but death was sudden
No — no known illness, sudden and unexplained
Unknown — no history available
Known medical history
GP registered?
Yes — GP practice known
Likely but not confirmed
No / unknown
GP / last medical contact
GP practice (if known)
Last seen by GP or hospital (approx date)
DNACPR / advance care plan
DNACPR present and valid
Advance care plan / anticipatory medications on scene
Not present but reported to exist
None present / not known
Medications on scene
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Medications present and consistent with stated history
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🚩 Medication packaging opened / missing tabletsPossible overdose — note drug name and approximate quantities
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🚩 Unknown or unprescribed medications present
Circumstances of Discovery
How the patient was found and who found them — police will always ask this.
Who found the patient?
Found by
Relationship to deceased
How was the patient found?
Was anyone else present at the time?
Yes — witness account available
No — found alone, no witnesses
Unknown
Next of kin
NOK present on scene
NOK notified but not present
NOK not yet identified or notified
NOK name and relationship
Additional concerns
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🚩 Child or children present or associated with the propertySafeguarding referral may be required regardless of circumstances
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🚩 Recent police or custody contactMay trigger independent investigation requirements
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🚩 Concern for domestic abuse / vulnerabilityHistory from informants, scene, or prior knowledge
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Identity of deceased confirmed
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🚩 Identity of deceased NOT confirmedNo ID found on person or property
Police Verbal Handover
Read this directly when you call. Tap Generate to populate from your entries.
⚠️ FLAGS IDENTIFIED
What to Document on PRF
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Time and crew detailsDispatch time, on-scene time, time LE confirmed
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Clinical basis for confirming life extinctFixed dilated pupils, absent pulse, absent respirations, rigor/livor if present
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Resuscitation decision and rationaleCPR commenced / not commenced / discontinued — with reason
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Scene description — factual and objectiveWhat you found, what you touched, what you moved and why
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History gathered and source of historyMedical history, last seen alive, from whom
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NOK details and notification
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Police handover detailsTime called, officer's name/number if given, outcome of call (attending/not attending)
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NWAS control informedTime and outcome
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Safeguarding referral made if requiredChildren, adults at risk, domestic concerns
If Police Say They Are Attending
• Stay on scene until they arrive — do not leave
• Do not move, clean, or disturb anything further
• Keep family away from the body
• Note the names of anyone who entered the property
• Be prepared to give a statement
• Log everything with timestamps on your PRF