只说脑S；大美法，Family cannot override

Who declares death in a hospital after a car accident?

• A licensed physician (or in some states, a qualified nurse practitioner or physician assistant) is authorized to pronounce death in a hospital.

• For brain death, U.S. law (Uniform Determination of Death Act) requires:

  • Irreversible cessation of all brain functions, confirmed by two physicians (in most states).

  • This is separate from cardiac death.

What if the patient is on life support?

• The medical team determines if the patient meets criteria for brain death.

• Once confirmed, they can legally declare death even if machines keep the heart beating.

• Family cannot override a brain death determination—it is legally death.

When does a court get involved?

A judge may decide if:

• There is a dispute about removing life support (e.g., family disagrees).

• There is a petition for legal death (e.g., body missing, prolonged coma without brain death).

• Guardianship or estate issues arise before death is declared.

 

Who signs the official death certificate?

• The attending physician or coroner/medical examiner (especially if death is accident-related).

• In car accidents, the medical examiner often gets involved because it's an unattended or traumatic death.