CLINICAL

DEATH VS.
BIOLOGICAL
DEATH

CLINICAL DEATH
CLINICAL DEATH (0-4 minutes) - occurs
from the time the person stops breathing
and the heart stops pumping.
Stoppage of heart beat, pulse and
breathing is called clinical death.
Most organs (eye, kidney) remain alive
after clinical death. These organs are used
for transplantation.
A period when a persons heartbeat and
breathing stop but can still be revived if
early medical attention is given.

BIOLOGICAL DEATH
BIOLOGICAL DEATH (4 minutes onwards) - brain damage
may occur at this point.
The death caused by degeneration of tissues in brain and
other part is called biological death.
Most organs become dead after biological death. These
organs can not be used for organ transplantation.
This is due to the fact that the heart is the main pumping
machine of the body, and without the blood coming from
the heart, the brain will gradually cease to function until it
achieves irreversible damage.
This is when the doctor will formally or legally declare that
the person is dead as the neurological damage to the
person is really impossible to reverse.

Signs of Imminent Death

System Symptom
Cardiological/ Circulatory
Cool and clammy skin
Mottled extremities
Rapid or irregular pulse
Musculoskeletal
Inability to ambulate
Inability to move/turn in bed
Neurological
Increased lethargy
More difficulty to arouse
Confusion
Restlessness
Respiratory Increased respiratory rate
Periods of apnea or Cheyne-Stokes respiration pattern
Inability to cough or clear secretions
Presence of increased secretions (death rattle)
Urinary Decreased and/or dark urine output