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The causes listed are relatively immediate medical causes, but the ultimate cause of death might be described differently. For example, tobacco smoking often causes lung disease or cancer, and alcohol use disorder can cause liver failure or a motor vehicle accident. For statistics on preventable ultimate causes, see preventable causes of death.
Death is the end of life; the irreversible cessation of all biological functions that sustain a living organism. [ 1] The remains of a former organism normally begin to decompose shortly after death. [ 2] Death eventually and inevitably occurs in all organisms.
Vital statistics generally distinguish specific injuries and diseases as cause of death, from general categories like homicide, accident, and death by natural causes as manner of death. Both are listed in this category, as are both proximal and root causes of death. An injury that could be fatal is called major trauma; see also Category:Injuries.
Cause of death. In law, medicine, and statistics, cause of death is an official determination of the conditions resulting in a human 's death, which may be recorded on a death certificate. A cause of death is determined by a medical examiner. In rare cases, an autopsy needs to be performed by a pathologist.
The stages that follow shortly after death are: Corneal opacity or "clouding". Pallor mortis, paleness which happens in the first 15–120 minutes after death. Livor mortis, or dependent lividity, a settling of the blood in the lower (dependent) portion of the body. Algor mortis, the reduction in body temperature following death.
In many legal jurisdictions, the manner of death is a determination, typically made by the coroner, medical examiner, police, or similar officials, and recorded as a vital statistic. Within the United States and the United Kingdom, a distinction is made between the cause of death, which is a specific disease or injury, versus manner of death ...
Clinical death. Clinical death is the medical term for cessation of blood circulation and breathing, the two criteria necessary to sustain the lives of human beings and of many other organisms. [ 1] It occurs when the heart stops beating in a regular rhythm, a condition called cardiac arrest. The term is also sometimes used in resuscitation ...
A near-death experience ( NDE) is a profound personal experience associated with death or impending death, which researchers describe as having similar characteristics. When positive, which the great majority are, [ 1] such experiences may encompass a variety of sensations including detachment from the body, feelings of levitation, total ...