2025 Code of Practice for the diagnosis and confirmation of death

The 2025 Code of Practice for the diagnosis and confirmation of death, updates the previous Code of Practice, last published in 2008. The Academy and its predecessor organisation, the Conference of Medical Royal Colleges and their Faculties, have published statements and Codes on how to diagnose and confirm death in the UK since 1976.

The purpose of the Code of Practice is to provide authoritative diagnostic criteria for any individual confirming death in the UK or the clinical foundation for writing profession-specific guidance. This will ensure that all deaths are diagnosed and confirmed in an accurate, standardised and timely manner.

The updated Code of Practice does not represent an alteration in the validity of historic diagnoses of death. However, medicine is constantly evolving so this Code includes a number of important updates based on growing global medical consensus, technological developments and lessons learned from individual clinical cases. The Code is applicable to all ages.

The Code also gives new advice and guidance to healthcare professionals on communication in the period around when the diagnosis and confirmation of death occurs.

The code is available here from 4th November 2024, to allow clinicians and others time to familiarise themselves with the document. However, the Code will not be implemented until January 1st 2025.

Until that time clinicians must continue to use the 2008 Code of Practice for children and adults over two months of age and the 2015 RCPCH recommendations for infants under two months of age.