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Family Guidance on Recognising Death — SCE Palliative Medicine MCQ

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EasyEnd of Life CareFamily Guidance on Recognising DeathSCE Palliative Medicine

A 58‑year‑old man with advanced pancreatic cancer is dying at home. He has young children. His wife asks how she will know when he has actually died. What simple guidance should she be given?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

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Correct answer: C — He will stop breathing completely

Option C is correct. UK patient information resources (e.g., NHS leaflets) advise that family carers can recognise death by observing the person becoming entirely unresponsive, with breathing having stopped completely, and the skin becoming pale or bluish and cool. Only then should they contact a GP or NHS 111 for formal verification. Option E is incorrect because home settings lack monitoring equipment to alert via alarms. Option B is misleading: although a healthcare professional must verify death, families are explicitly taught to observe the signs themselves before calling. Option A is impractical and not advised for lay carers. Option D is false—death in palliative care may be gradual and subtle, not always sudden or obvious.

Reference: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/conditions-and-diseases/cancer/palliative-care