ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Published Online: 1 April 1979
Page Count: 9

The “Undetermined” Ruling: A Medicolegal Dilemma
Murphy, GK
Associate pathologist, Miami Valley Hospital, Ohio

(Received 19 June 1978; accepted 7 August 1978)

Abstract

For many years it has been the duty of coroners and medical examiners not only to investigate deaths of medicolegal interest but also to render an opinion as to the cause and manner of death. “Cause of death” is understood to be the primary disease, injury, or physiologic disturbance that brings about a person's death. “Manner of death” is ruled “natural” when death results solely from a disease process and “unnatural” when death results from unavoidable injury (“accident”), conscious intent of the decedent (“suicide”), or the act of another (“homicide”).

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Paper ID: JFS10857J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS10857J
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