Identification of the Decedent and Next-of-Kin Notification
Establish identity before naming anyone
Identification is either presumptive (visual recognition, personal effects, tattoos, scars, witness statements) or positive/scientific (fingerprints, dental comparison, DNA, antemortem radiographs, serial-numbered implants). Visual identification is the weakest method and becomes unreliable with trauma, fire, or decomposition. Never confirm a name to media, family, or other agencies until identity is positively established and the next of kin have been notified - releasing a name prematurely can put a family's first knowledge of a death on the evening news.
The notification visit
Notify in person when practicable, ideally with two people present, and confirm you are speaking with the right person before disclosing anything. Use the decedent's name, use plain words such as "died," and give the family a short, factual account of where the body is and what happens next. Do not speculate about cause or manner, do not describe injuries, and do not offer opinions on blame. Expect shock, anger, denial, and silence; allow silence rather than filling it with detail.
Information to gather
Ask about medical history, medications, recent behavior, last known whereabouts, and who else should be told. Identify a secondary contact. Document who was notified, by whom, when, where, and how, plus any referrals.
Traps: telephoning a death notification as a convenience, disclosing scene details, and forgetting to document the notification. Rule of thumb: identify, then notify, then release.