Police Certified Death

[BlueBox81]

My lovely DF died in his sleep on Tuesday night. He was 86 but seemingly in very good health so a total shock.
When my DM found him she called 999 and the operator agreed that it was too late to attempt resuscitation and said they would send an ambulance and the police because the death was unexpected.

A young policeman arrived a couple of hours later and said something about who had verified the death. When we said he was the first person to come he seemed very surprised. He went away and called his sergeant then came back and said that he was going to confirm the death. We all agreed but it's playing on my mind since.

I thought a medical professional had to certify death? I have never heard of police doing it before and a quick Google seems to say that it will be done by a medic. I guess it must be OK and not sure why this is playing on my mind admist everything else but just wanted to ask if anyone knew if this is now normal practice?

I don't know. I think maybe I have a sort of sadness that he wasn't 'bothered with' because a doctor didn't come (i know this is irrational). Thank you

I'm sorry for your loss.

Yes, police can certify death in England and Wales. I've done it many times.

If there is any doubt at all, including about potential for resuscitation, an ambulance is called and CPR attempted.

ETA - per the next poster, they are quite right that the correct term is confirming death. The death certificate is a separate process.

I’m sorry for your loss. It sounds like it was a big shock.

I’m sure certifiying death refers to the paper work which need to be completed before a death certificate can be issued. The paper work must be conpleted by a doctor but I think it’s different to confirming death.

Verifying/confirming death and certifying death are different things - lots of people are appropriately skilled to verify death and certifying is essentially paperwork about the death done by doctors.

Sorry for your loss.
My parents both died at home and our GP came out to, well, not sure what really. Make sure they were dead I suppose! But they died in the daytime, and I rang the surgery not 999 so no policeman attended. But this was over 10 years ago so things may have changed.
I hope in time you and your family can take comfort in the fact he passed peacefully.

Thank you for your responses and explaining to me that the death was being confirmed rather than certified. I think the problem is all my knowledge of sudden death comes from TV dramas!

We are so glad he died so peacefully. He had exactly the kind of death he wanted, even though it has been hard for us coming out of nowhere. I'm very grateful it wasn't hard for him and I got to have him in my life for so long.

I'm so sorry for your loss. The police came after my Mum died but only after the paramedics had confirmed her death I think