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| title | chunk | source | category | tags | date_saved | instance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manner of death | 2/2 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manner_of_death | reference | science, encyclopedia | 2026-05-05T07:30:31.066625+00:00 | kb-cron |
=== United Kingdom === In the United Kingdom, when people die, either a doctor writes an acceptable natural cause of death medical certificate, or a coroner (procurator fiscal in Scotland) investigates the case. Coroners are independent judicial officers who investigate deaths reported to them, and subsequently whatever inquiries are necessary to discover the cause of death, this includes ordering a post-mortem examination, obtaining witness statements and medical records, or holding an inquest. In the unified legal jurisdiction of England and Wales, most deaths are certified by doctors without autopsy or coroner involvement. Almost all deaths certified by the coroner involve an autopsy but most do not involve a formal inquest. In England and Wales, a specific list of choices for verdicts is not mandated, and "narrative verdicts" are allowed, which are not specifically classified. The verdicts aggregated by the Ministry of Justice are:
Homicide Killed unlawfully Killed lawfully Suicide Attempted or self-induced abortion Cause of death aggravated by lack of care, or self-neglect Dependence on drugs Non-dependent abuse of drugs Want of attention at birth Death from industrial diseases Death by accident or misadventure Stillborn Death from natural causes Open verdict Disaster
=== Other jurisdictions === Some jurisdictions place deaths in absentia, such as deaths at sea and missing persons declared dead in a court of law, in the "Undetermined" category on the grounds that due to the fact-finder's lack of ability to examine the body, the examiner has no personal knowledge of the manner of (assumed) death; others classify such deaths in an additional category "Other", reserving "Undetermined" for deaths in which the fact-finder has access to the body, but the information provided by the body and examination of it is insufficient to provide sufficient grounds for a determination. The Norwegian Medical Association classifies what other jurisdictions might call "undetermined" as "unnatural":
Sudden and unexpected death of an unknown cause Deaths in prison or while in civilian or military detention
== Legal implications == A death ruled as homicide or unlawful killing is typically referred to police or prosecutor or equivalent official for investigation and criminal charges if warranted. Deaths caused by capital punishment, though homicides, are themselves sanctioned by prosecution and therefore lawful and not prosecuted. Most deaths due to war are not prosecuted, unless there is evidence of a war crime, in which case troops on foreign territory might be prosecuted by the military justice system, domestic law enforcement, or the International Criminal Court if under its jurisdiction. Some insurance contracts, such as life insurance policies, have special rules for certain manners of death. Suicide, for example, may invalidate claims under terms of such a contract.
== References ==
== Further reading == S.A.Koehler. "Chapter 7 – Death Investigation". Forensic Epidemiology: Principles and Practice. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-404584-2.00007-0.
== External links == Death From Natural Causes – Certificate of Treating or Examining Doctor – Form 3 – Burial and Cremation Act 2013 (section 10) Archived 2022-08-11 at the Wayback Machine (Australia)