Advice From British Medical Magazine

Never say dead, doctors told
Doctors have been advised never to pronounce a passenger dead on a flight, even if the person has stopped breathing and can't be treated further, according to new recommendations published in Lancet online. It says that when the call goes out for help, doctors should show their credentials and obtain patient consent. They should also request the airline's enhanced medical kit rather than its basic first aid kit.
Source: www.afr.com 26/02/2009