Determining the Cause of Death: A Scientific Perspective

In summary: Many patients who become seriously ill with COVID-19 have one or more comorbities. Having a comorbidity increases the risk of mortality or poor outcome.Perhaps the politician who quit smoking could have lived a few more years, but COVID-19 apparently lead to a quick demise. The result of death could be cardiac arrest, pulmonary failure, stroke, or organ failure, or other causes related to lack of oxygen in the blood, or septicemia, which leads to organ failure.The cause of death was COVID-19. The mechanism of death was multiple organ failure . The manner of death
  • #36
White Hole said:
Though it would be hilarious if that was the report they give.
It's been an anti vax thing early doors and they are still wheeling it out.
There are about 160,000 death certs with COVID19 from March 2020 in the UK.
Official deaths are at 135000 due to Covid. We can assume Drs and pathologists can still do an ok job and the stat guys who look at 5 year averages year by year month by month make a contribution. I think that's why the UK reduced numbers by about 5000 last year and China added 3000.
 
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  • #37
StevieTNZ said:
Isn't that for the Coroner to decide?
Until then, his cause of death is a superposition of COVID and long term smoking.

And as much of a trite joke that is, it is actually likely a combination of both.
 
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  • #39
I am going to take a risk that this post will sound too political, but I can foresee a future where the cause of death will be xxxx and long term complications of covid.
 
  • #40
Averagesupernova said:
I am going to take a risk that this post will sound too political, but I can foresee a future where the cause of death will be xxxx and long term complications of covid.
Possibly true. In one study, 30% of college athletes who tested positive for Covid had heart damage.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/ja...ign=ftm_links&utm_content=tfl&utm_term=091120

One of the particularly insidious aspects of Covid is that you can have permanent heart, lung, vascular, or neurological damage, and not even know you had it.

One can even imagine that since we likely do not develop much long-term immunity to this, it could conceivably come back each year like other Corona viruses referred to as the common cold. But with this, each time you get it, it makes you more vulnerable the next time by doing lung and/or other organ or vascular damage. Eventually it degrades your health enough to kill you.
 
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  • #41
Lot of opinions in this thread. I confess I did not read them all.

As I see it, one should ask the question: But for Covid-19, would this person be alive today? The answer is surely: probably.

That means it is classified as a Covid-related death. It does not have to be the cause of death to be counted as a Covid-related death.

Especially since, technically, no one has ever died of Covid-19 they have all died from complications arising due to Covid-19.
 
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  • #42
And not to put too fine a point on it, but 100% of all deaths are due to the same cause: lack of oxygen to the brain. All other factors (up to and including cardiac arrest - and even exsanguination) are merely contributory. :wink:
 
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<h2>What is the process for determining the cause of death?</h2><p>The process for determining the cause of death involves several steps. First, the medical examiner or coroner will review the deceased's medical history and perform a physical examination. They may also order additional tests, such as toxicology screenings or imaging tests. Once all of the information is gathered, the medical examiner will make a determination of the cause of death.</p><h2>What factors are considered when determining the cause of death?</h2><p>When determining the cause of death, the medical examiner will consider a variety of factors. These may include the deceased's medical history, the circumstances surrounding their death, the results of any tests or examinations, and any evidence found at the scene of the death.</p><h2>How accurate is the determination of the cause of death?</h2><p>The accuracy of the determination of the cause of death depends on the thoroughness and expertise of the medical examiner or coroner. They will use all available information and evidence to make their determination, but there is always a possibility for error. In some cases, further investigation or additional testing may be needed to confirm the cause of death.</p><h2>Can the cause of death be changed after it has been determined?</h2><p>In some cases, the cause of death may be changed after it has been initially determined. This may occur if new evidence is discovered or if further testing reveals a different cause. However, the cause of death is typically only changed if there is significant new information that warrants a revision.</p><h2>What role does science play in determining the cause of death?</h2><p>Science plays a crucial role in determining the cause of death. Medical examiners and coroners use scientific methods and techniques to gather and analyze evidence, perform tests, and make their determinations. Without the use of science, it would be much more difficult to accurately determine the cause of death.</p>

What is the process for determining the cause of death?

The process for determining the cause of death involves several steps. First, the medical examiner or coroner will review the deceased's medical history and perform a physical examination. They may also order additional tests, such as toxicology screenings or imaging tests. Once all of the information is gathered, the medical examiner will make a determination of the cause of death.

What factors are considered when determining the cause of death?

When determining the cause of death, the medical examiner will consider a variety of factors. These may include the deceased's medical history, the circumstances surrounding their death, the results of any tests or examinations, and any evidence found at the scene of the death.

How accurate is the determination of the cause of death?

The accuracy of the determination of the cause of death depends on the thoroughness and expertise of the medical examiner or coroner. They will use all available information and evidence to make their determination, but there is always a possibility for error. In some cases, further investigation or additional testing may be needed to confirm the cause of death.

Can the cause of death be changed after it has been determined?

In some cases, the cause of death may be changed after it has been initially determined. This may occur if new evidence is discovered or if further testing reveals a different cause. However, the cause of death is typically only changed if there is significant new information that warrants a revision.

What role does science play in determining the cause of death?

Science plays a crucial role in determining the cause of death. Medical examiners and coroners use scientific methods and techniques to gather and analyze evidence, perform tests, and make their determinations. Without the use of science, it would be much more difficult to accurately determine the cause of death.

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