Death on arrival describes a patient who dies at which point?

Death on arrival describes a patient who dies at which point?

• A. In the emergency department
• B. On arrival at the hospital
• C. After admission
• D. While in transit

Answer: (B)

The key idea is understanding what “death on arrival” means in hospital/EMS records: the patient is deceased at the moment they reach the hospital, before any assessment or treatment begins. This is why the description of death on arrival corresponds to dying on arrival at the hospital. If death occurs during transport, that would be death in transit; if death happens after a patient has been admitted, it is not death on arrival.

The key idea is understanding what “death on arrival” means in hospital/EMS records: the patient is deceased at the moment they reach the hospital, before any assessment or treatment begins. This is why the description of death on arrival corresponds to dying on arrival at the hospital. If death occurs during transport, that would be death in transit; if death happens after a patient has been admitted, it is not death on arrival.