Some medical conditions such as reduced body temperature, lack of pulse or rigor mortis (stiffening of limbs) can be part of the diagnosis of death. However some individuals have recovered following these 'symptoms'. Over time, people have used different ways of testing a body to confirm a death.

In the Roman period, relatives loudly called out the dead person's name to ensure they did not respond. This was known as conclamatio, and continued until burial or the cremation was complete.

Some Hindus believe that death doesn't take place until the skull splits open in the heat of the cremation pyre.

In many societies across time, certain rituals would mean that the body was closely watched in the days following death, allowing time for changes to the body to be noticed. At an Irish wake the body is laid out in the dead person's home and friends and family gather to pray for and celebrate their life.