Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for detecting the cessation of movement of a body by detecting the voltage produced by the movement of the charge on said body because of the body's movement. This is accomplished by a passive contactless conductive pad which is spaced from the body and in which a potential is induced by the movement of the body through the movement of the charge on the body. This potential is amplified and an alarm indication device responds to the amplified potential to produce an alarm when the output of the amplifier is below a predetermined value or for a predetermined period of time. This device enables the unattended monitoring of breathing and heart functioning for long periods of time.