What is the procedure conducted by a medical professional to prove signs of death called?

The procedure conducted by a medical professional to prove signs of death is most accurately referred to as clinical examination. During this process, the medical professional assesses the body for definitive signs of death, which may include the absence of vital signs such as heartbeat and respiration, and evaluates other physiological indicators. This procedure is essential in establishing that an individual has indeed passed away before undertaking any further legal or medical actions, such as death certification or autopsy.

While autopsy may provide additional information about the cause of death, it is not the immediate procedure used to confirm death itself. Death certification is a formal process that occurs after clinical examination and involves documenting the condition of the deceased, often requiring confirmation of death by this examination first. The term "expert test" does not specifically relate to the process of determining death, making it less relevant to the question.

Understanding clinical examination is fundamental for professionals in the field of mortuary science, as it lays the groundwork for all subsequent interactions with the deceased and their families.