The term “natural causes” often appears on death certificates and in public discourse, but its precise meaning may not be immediately clear. It refers to a death resulting from an internal bodily process rather than an external event.
What “Natural Causes” Encompasses
A death attributed to natural causes signifies that the body’s systems ceased functioning due to an inherent disease process, the effects of aging, or an internal malfunction. No external forces, such as injury or violence, directly led to the person’s demise.
Common examples of natural causes include medical conditions that progress over time or occur suddenly due to internal physiological issues. Heart disease, such as a heart attack, strokes, cancer, severe infections, organ failure, or complications from chronic conditions like diabetes are all considered natural causes of death.
How Natural Differs from Other Causes
The classification of “natural causes” stands in contrast to other manners of death, which involve external factors or intentional actions. These other categories include accidental, suicidal, and homicidal deaths. Distinguishing between these classifications is important for legal and statistical purposes.
An accidental death occurs unexpectedly from an event that was neither planned nor involved intentional risky behavior, such as a slip and fall, a traffic collision, or accidental poisoning. Suicidal death refers to an individual intentionally taking their own life. Homicidal death indicates that one person caused the death of another. Natural deaths stem from internal processes, unlike other manners of death which involve external forces or deliberate acts.
Determining the Cause of Death
The process of determining the cause of death is carried out by medical professionals, such as doctors, medical examiners, or coroners. These individuals are responsible for investigating the circumstances surrounding a death to accurately classify it. Their findings are then recorded on a death certificate, a legal document that officially states the cause and manner of death.
The determination often involves reviewing the deceased person’s medical history, including any pre-existing conditions or recent treatments. An external examination of the body is performed to check for signs of trauma or disease. If the circumstances are unclear or suspicious, a medicolegal autopsy may be conducted, which involves a thorough internal examination of organs and tissues, and potentially toxicology tests to detect substances like drugs or alcohol. This information is then used to reach a conclusion regarding the specific cause and manner of death.