What Does Unattended Death Mean – Next Steps
The passing of someone can be a difficult thing to go through, especially when the death was unattended. But what does unattended death mean? Well, keep scrolling as we have everything you need to know about unattended death.
What Does Unattended Death Mean
Definition of an Unattended Death
Unattended death can be defined as a death where the body of the deceased is not found for an unspecified period of time. In other words, it is a type of death that occurs unexpectedly without other people’s knowledge. This means that the body might not be discovered for days, week, and months in extreme cases. Unattended death in legal terms refers to a death where people pass away without a witness or in the absence of medical care.
Situations in which an unattended death occurs:
• Suicide
• Accident
• Decedent lived alone
• Homicide
• Sudden Health Issues
• Overdose
What to do Once You Discover an Unattended Death
1. Contact the Authorities
The most important thing is to contact authority as soon as possible. Call the authorities explaining the incident and the location. Wait for them outside the building and once they arrive, direct them and answer any questions they may have.
2. Make Plans For the Collection of the Body
After discovering the body, the authorities usually transfer the body for an autopsy to the coroner or medical examiner and release the body shortly after. If you have a direct relationship with the deceased, it will be your responsibility to collect the body and make arrangements for the funeral. If you’re a landlord or a property manager, contact the deceased’s next of kin or their emergency contact as soon as possible for plans to collect the body.
3. Notify Family and Friends
Losing a loved one is traumatizing and given that people are different, notify your friends and family about death in the best way possible.
4. Hire Professional Cleaners
You can clean up after unattended death, however, if you are not comfortable doing so, you may call professional cleaners in to clean up. If you decide to clean up after the dead body you must be aware of the chronic infectious diseases and bloodborne pathogens that can be detrimental to your health being exposed to the body fluids of the body. This means that you should be concerned about HIV, tuberculosis, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, cholera, and enteric intestinal pathogens. Therefore, hiring professional biohazard cleaners might be the best option.
5. Seek Counseling
After discovering an unattended death, it’s advisable to seek counseling service to help you cope with trauma and stress. Whether you manage the property, you’re a landlord, a family or friend, discovering unattended body is frightening and seeking help from a professional counselor helps you to move on.
Hopefully this article helped answer the question “what does unattended death mean”. Make sure you properly clean the area where the body was found, given the possibility of diseases that may spread.