What is postmortem care?

Postmortem care refers specifically to the care provided to a deceased person's body immediately after death. This involves several important practices, including preparing the body for viewing by family, handling the body respectfully, and ensuring that any necessary legal or health protocols are followed. This care is crucial not only from an ethical standpoint but also for cultural and religious reasons that may dictate specific postmortem practices.

The other choices do not accurately describe postmortem care. Care provided during a patient's illness pertains to ongoing medical treatment and support prior to death, while preventive care focuses on measures taken to avert illness rather than addressing care after death. Lastly, care for terminally ill patients relates to palliative approaches during a person's life who is nearing death, not the care given after a death has occurred. Thus, the choice of care given to the body immediately after death is the most accurate definition of postmortem care.