Georgia State Board of Funeral Service Practice Exam

Under which conditions can a Coroner or ME make a pronouncement of death?

1. Irreversible cessation of circulatory functions only

2. Irreversible cessation of brain functions only

3. Both circulatory and respiratory functions must cease

4. Presence of a physician at the time of death

The correct answer is: Both circulatory and respiratory functions must cease

A Coroner or Medical Examiner can make a pronouncement of death under the condition that both circulatory and respiratory functions have ceased. This is based on a comprehensive understanding of death as it is defined in medical and legal contexts. When both the heart has stopped beating (irrevocable cessation of circulation) and there is a cessation of breathing, it indicates that the body is no longer sustaining life. This dual requirement ensures a more reliable determination of death, recognizing that either function alone may not be sufficient in some cases to declare death definitively. Additionally, relying solely on the cessation of brain functions (as indicated in some options) does not fully encompass the total state of death since some definitions allow for a 'brain death' scenario. The presence of a physician at the time of death, while important for many medical and legal processes, is not a necessary condition for a Coroner or ME to pronounce death. Thus, the correct answer underscores a more holistic approach to determining when death has occurred based on both circulatory and respiratory criteria.