Sec. 18.08.089. Authority to pronounce death.

458 words·~2 min read·/ak/title-18/chapter-8/18-08-089

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

(a)A mobile intensive care paramedic licensed under this chapter, a physician assistant registered or licensed under AS 08.64.107 , or an emergency medical technician certified under this chapter may make a determination and pronouncement of death of a person under the following circumstances:

(1)the mobile intensive care paramedic or emergency medical technician is an active member of an emergency medical service certified under this chapter;

(2)neither a physician licensed under AS 08.64 nor a physician exempt from licensure under AS 08.64 is immediately available for consultation by radio or telephone communications;

(3)the mobile intensive care paramedic, physician assistant, or emergency medical technician has determined, based on acceptable medical standards, that the person has sustained irreversible cessation of circulatory and respiratory functions.

(b)A mobile intensive care paramedic, physician assistant, or emergency medical technician who has determined and pronounced death under this section shall document the clinical criteria for the determination and pronouncement on the person's emergency medical service report form and notify the appropriate medical director or collaborative physician as soon as communication can be established. The paramedic, physician assistant, or emergency medical technician shall provide to the person who signs the death certificate the

(1)name of the deceased;

(2)presence of a contagious disease, if known; and

(3)date and time of death.

(c)Except as otherwise provided under AS 18.50.230 , a physician licensed under AS 08.64 shall certify a death determined under

(b)of this section within 24 hours after the pronouncement by the mobile intensive care paramedic, physician assistant, or emergency medical technician.

(d)In this section,

(1)“acceptable medical standards” means cardiac arrest accompanied by

(A)the presence of injuries incompatible with life, including incineration, decapitation, open head injury with loss of brain matter, or detruncation;

(B)the presence of rigor mortis;

(C)the presence of post mortem lividity; or

(D)failure of the patient to respond to properly administered resuscitation efforts;

(2)“failure of the patient to respond” means without restoration of spontaneous pulse or respiratory effort by the patient;

(3)“properly administered resuscitation efforts” means

(A)when a person authorized to perform advanced cardiac life support techniques is not available and the patient is not hypothermic, at least 30 minutes of properly performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation;

(B)when a person authorized to perform advanced cardiac life support techniques is not available and the patient is hypothermic, at least 60 minutes of cardiopulmonary resuscitation properly performed in conjunction with rewarming techniques as described in the current cold injuries guidelines published by the Department of Health; or

(C)at least 30 minutes of cardiopulmonary resuscitation and advanced cardiac life support techniques properly performed by a person authorized to perform advanced life support services.