Mortimer already gave you the most logical answer, but if you want to have other alternatives for DOE go here.

I worked in a morgue in London (as a student). There, just to be different they said BID (brought in dead) instead of DOA. A bit of useless info......

Taoism (or Daoism) refers to a variety of related philosophical and religious traditions and concepts that have influenced East Asia for over two millennia and the West for over two centuries.[1] The word 道, Tao (or Dao, depending on the romanization scheme), means "path" or "way", although in Chinese folk religion and philosophy it has taken on more abstract meanings. Taoist propriety and ethics emphasize the Three Jewels of the Tao: compassion, moderation, and humility. Taoist thought generally focuses on nature, men-cosmos correspondence (天人相应), health, longevity, wu wei ('wooh way', action through inaction), liberty, and spontaneity.

Dead Or Alive/Dead On Arrival

Flashforward Rocks!! And yes, it means Dead On Arrival. Meaning DON'T talk about IT!!

Yes, I agree, Dead n Arrival....it is an expression that is used in the US

Dead on Arrival

Meaning the subject in question dies during transit (on the way to the hospital) or wherever they taking him/her/it.

mortimerfran is right. DOA generally refers to someone who is rushed to the hospital but dies on the way. So, the person is "dead on arrival" (at the hospital). Often DOA is used as a noun, to refer to the unfortunate person.

In politics, proposed legislation is sometimes called "dead on arrival." Usually this is said by someone who disagrees with it. Meaning, the legislation has no chance of a favorable vote.

In the military we say Delta Bravo.

If you talk about this, you are DOA.

In this sense it is being used to say: If you tell anybody, I'll kill you.

Besides what has already been said, if the police or ambulance driver comes to the scene and the guy (or girl) is already dead than they write it up that the victim/patient was "dead on arrival". This terminology, probably through its use in numerous movies and TV shows, has gradually leaked its way into the common vernacular.

I work for a cell phone company...if someone orders a cell phone and if it arrives at their house and they take it out of its package and it doesn't work, we say it arrived DOA (but it first referred to victims arriving dead on arrival to the hospital in an ambulance..as has already been stated)