Cause and Manner of Death Flashcards
What is cause of death?
AR
The disease or injury that initiated the death event
What is Manner of death?
AR
the classification of someone’s death
What is mechanism of death?
AR
the physiological derangement that results in death
What are the 5 manner of deaths?
AR
homocide, accidental, suicide, natural, & undetermined
What document details the injury or disease that led to death?
AR
A death certificate
What is the key word that can help to determine a manner of death, when the cause of death may be applicable to multiple?
Intent
(KW)
How do you define Homicide?
Death at the hands of another person
(KW)
How do you define Suicide?
Death due to intentional, self-inflicted harm
(KW)
How do you define an Accidental Death?
An unintentional death as a result of an injury or poisoning
(KW)
How do you define a Natural Death?
A death due to diseases and/or the aging process, without any injury or intentional harm
(KW)
When dealing with multiple conditions of cause of death, how do you read them?
1 2 3 4
MH
Right to Left or 4 -> 1
A Gun shot wound to the head can be any manner of death but…?
MH
Natural
With multiple condition of cause of death- mechanism of death can be considered for which ones ?
1 2 3 4
MH
1, 2, or 3
closer to the last event
Hunting “accidents” in which a hunter intentionally fires a weapon (but
may not intend to shoot at a human) could be considered - what is the manner of death?
MH
Homicide
bc the decedent died at the hands of another
who fired the weapon.
Consequences of chronic substance abuse, such as alcoholic cirrhosis,
alcohol withdrawal seizures - what is the manner of death?
MH
Natural
have been traditionally designated as such
True or False: Hypothermia deaths are considered natural.
False, they are usually considered accidental
(CG)
True or False: Cause and Manner of death are opinions
True
(CG)
Is Time of Death more likely to be an exact number or a range?
A range
(CG)
Can a heart attack ever be considered a homicide?
Yes, in cases such as a drugging or a robbery causing a heart attack.
(CG)
Carbon Monoxide deaths are usually considered ____ or _____
Suicide or Accidental
(CG)
What are the two ways cause of death can be expressed?
Part 1. Describe the condition that directly lead to death
Part 2. a list of the conditions that were not a direct cause of the death but played a part in it
(NA)
What is an example of how cause of death can be expressed in two parts?
A fall ultimately caused a series of events leading a person to die, the fall caused a hip fracture, which then caused a pulmonary embolism, which led to acute respiratory failure.
(NA)
Can a manner of death be changed?
Manner of death can be changed at anytime when new information is presented
(NA)
Is cause and manner of death fact or opinon?
It is opinion based, intent in extremely important when classifying manner of death.
(NA)
Is undetermined a common ruling? HS
No
What manner of death could a gunshot wound be? HS
Suicide, homicide, or accidental
Can an injury ever be ruled as a natural death? HS
No
What is the sixth manner of death? HS
Pending
Can cause of death be determined on the scene? HS
Yes, it is a best educated guess
