Life Extinct Form
What Is It?
The Life Extinct Form confirms that a qualified Queensland Ambulance Service officer has attended and determined that life is extinct.
It is not a Cause of Death Certificate. It records that a person has died and allows the next steps to begin.
The current Queensland Ambulance Service form is completed in all cases where an ambulance clinician has verified death.
Why Is It Important?
The Life Extinct Form needs to be completed before MyRest can take someone into our care following a death attended by Queensland Ambulance Service.
This is particularly important when someone has died at home. The form provides the information needed for the next steps and helps establish whether the death needs to be referred to the Coroner.
This is why there can sometimes be a short wait before we arrive, even when we’re ready to leave immediately.
Reportable or Non-Reportable?
The form records whether the death is reportable to the Coroner.
If the death is not reportable, the person’s doctor is generally responsible for completing the Cause of Death Certificate. The Queensland Ambulance Service form asks for the doctor’s details and whether the medical practitioner is likely to provide the certificate.
If the death is reportable, the matter is referred to the Coroner and the usual arrangements for a non-reportable death do not apply.
Who Issues It?
The Life Extinct Form is completed by the Queensland Ambulance Service clinician who verifies the death.
A Registered Nurse in a hospital or aged care facility may also complete the relevant documentation when death is verified in that setting.
What Happens Next?
Once the Life Extinct Form has been completed, MyRest can arrange the transfer into our care.
For a non-reportable death, the treating doctor is expected to provide the Cause of Death Certificate within two working days. If the certificate is not forthcoming within that time, the funeral service provider is expected to notify Queensland Police.
For a reportable death, the matter is referred to the Coroner and the next steps are determined through that process.
Crew Notes
Internal Process
When Queensland Ambulance Service attends a death and verifies that life is extinct, make sure the Life Extinct Form has been completed before arranging collection.
Check whether the death is marked as reportable or not reportable.
Doctor Details --- Non-Reportable Deaths
If the death is not reportable, pay particular attention to the doctor details on the form.
The current QAS form specifically asks for:
- the name of the patient’s General Practitioner
- Doctor’s name
- contact number
- practice location
- whether the medical practitioner is likely to provide a Cause of Death Certificate
Please make sure the name of the doctor who is expected to issue the Cause of Death Certificate is provided, as set out in bold on the form.
Where possible, this should also be confirmed with the doctor or practice.
This is important because once the person is in our care, we may need to follow up the Cause of Death Certificate. Having the correct doctor’s name at the time of collection makes that process much easier.
Common Issues
- The Life Extinct Form has not been completed.
- The form is marked not reportable, but the doctor who will issue the Cause of Death Certificate has not been identified.
- The doctor’s details are incomplete or difficult to read.
- There is uncertainty about whether the death is reportable.
If there is uncertainty, don’t guess. Contact Queensland Ambulance Service, the treating doctor or the relevant authority as appropriate.
Related Documents
- Cause of Death Certificate (Form 9)