Traumatic Arrest – Blunt and Penetrating are included in the PDP unless it is governed by which policy for death pronouncement in the field?

• A. 814 (La County Policy 814: 'Determination/Pronouncement of Death in the Field')
• B. 915
• C. 510
• D. 702

Answer: (A)

The key point is which rule guides deciding death on scene for traumatic arrest. In the Los Angeles County EMS system, the Revised Patient Disposition Policy (PDP) covers traumatic arrest as a default path, but there is an explicit field-end-of-life rule that takes precedence when applicable. That rule is policy 814—Determination/Pronouncement of Death in the Field. It lays out the specific criteria and procedures for pronouncing death on scene, so when those field pronouncement criteria are met, the provider follows policy 814 instead of the PDP. The other policies listed don’t provide the field death-pronouncement criteria, so they don’t govern this decision. This ensures consistent, legally sound on-scene pronouncements.