What Are the Four Categories of Death? – What to Know

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(Newswire.net — October 30, 2018) — What are the four categories of death? There are four categories of death that a forensic pathologist looks at to establish the cause of death. Some deaths are natural, but others alter an individual’s body in several ways. The four death categories can be used to explain how and why the death occurred, or what caused or initiated the events that led to it.

What are the Four Categories of Death

Natural death: This is death caused by physical factors. Natural death could be caused by an illness, old age or any other naturally occurring condition that leads to malfunctioning of the body. Many deaths fall under this category.

Homicide: This is the category murder typically falls into. Homicide is the intentional taking of a person’s life by another. In pre-meditated murder or manslaughter, the person thinks about it, plans and does the execution in cold blood.

Accidental Death: Accidental death is as a result of unfortunate circumstances. In this category, there are also unintentional murders and suicides. Accidental murder, also referred to as manslaughter, can be due to involuntary acts of violence. A common cause of manslaughter are car accidents, which cause the deaths of thousands nationwide each year. If you or a loved one has been injured or suffered fatal injuries in a car accident, you can contact a Dallas car accident attorney to seek a compensatory settlement.  Victims can also die at work, in sports or any other activity that entails potentially fatal risks.

Suicide: This refers to the intentional taking of one’s own life, sometimes due to stress or severe depression. Suicide is not accidental. In all cases of suicide, the individual knows or sets events in motion to end their own life, so it cannot be termed as a misadventure either. 

Why the Different Categories of Death?

Pathologists look at the evidence presented in physical or chemical from within or outside the body to determine how, why or who caused the death. 
Looking at it deeply a pathologist can find out whether the death was an accident, caused by another person or a personal intention to end one’s life. Perhaps unsurprisingly the task of finding out the cause of death is the most intricate one- there could be so many possible explanations for one incidence. A pathologist usually has to carry out an autopsy. The results of the autopsy can be used to inform a police investigation or prove or disprove it. The autopsy results also are to be accepted by the coroner to settle an inquest before a family can bury their loved one.
So, what are the four categories of death? These include natural death, accidental death, homicide, and suicide. A pathologist will typically inspect a death to help be sure the death is categorized correct. A pathologist’s work is intricate with several examinations and tests outside and inside the body.