How long will defibrillator shock a person if they are dead?

A defibrillator will not successfully shock a person who is truly dead, as death is defined by the absence of electrical activity in the heart. Defibrillators are designed to restore a normal heart rhythm in cases of certain types of cardiac arrest, such as ventricular fibrillation. If there is no electrical activity or a heartbeat, the defibrillator will not deliver a shock, as it requires some level of electrical activity to function. In cases where a person is declared dead, resuscitation efforts, including defibrillation, are no longer applicable.