What term describes the event, injury, or illness that is responsible for a person's death?

The term "cause of death" specifically refers to the event, injury, or illness that directly leads to a person's death. This could encompass various factors, such as trauma, a medical condition, or any other significant event that resulted in the individual's demise. Understanding the cause of death is crucial in forensic investigations as it offers insights into how and why a person died, thereby aiding in determining legal accountability, establishing timelines, and contributing to public health data.

The other terms mentioned have different meanings within the context of death investigations. "Manner of death" relates to how the cause of death came about—such as whether it was natural, accidental, suicidal, or homicidal. "Mechanism of death" refers more specifically to the physiological process or changes that occur in the body as a result of the cause of death, such as hemorrhaging or cardiac arrest. "Result of death" is a more general term and doesn’t convey the specific events or factors leading to the death, making it less precise in a forensic context. Thus, "cause of death" is the most accurate term to identify the direct reason behind a person's death.