No cause of death given

[AntonyMMM]

In some cases, especially those of the elderly, doctors will tell you that establishing a precise cause of death is difficult if not impossible - so "Old Age" is still allowable and used quite frequently.

I can think of a few occasions as a registrar where I had to speak to a doctor to clarify something and they would freely admit the cause they had put down was just their "best guess", and they had no idea really.

[Ayashi]

One of my ancestors, who died in his 90s, has a cause of death of "probably old age"...

I like the more poetic sounding deaths, like "fullness of the life's cycle" "cessation of the heart's function", although I am lacking in "Visitation by God" and aside from the vagueness of the cause I oddly wouldn't mind getting one.

[stanmapstone]

In some cases, especially those of the elderly, doctors will tell you that establishing a precise cause of death is difficult if not impossible - so "Old Age" is still allowable and used quite frequently.

Medical Certificate  of Cause of Death Notes for Doctors
"Old age, senility – do not use ‘old age’ or ‘senility’ as the only cause of death in Part I unless a more specific cause of death cannot be given and the deceased was aged 70 or over."  http://www.rootschat.com/links/01l8t/

Stan

[AntonyMMM]

Medical Certificate  of Cause of Death Notes for Doctors
"Old age, senility – do not use ‘old age’ or ‘senility’ as the only cause of death in Part I unless a more specific cause of death cannot be given and the deceased was aged 70 or over."  http://www.rootschat.com/links/01l8t/
Stan

The "more specific cause of death cannot be given" wording is why it gets used quite often. That version of the guidance to doctors is a little out of date - the minimum age was raised to 80 quite a few years ago.

[stanmapstone]

the minimum age was raised to 80 quite a few years ago.

CERTIFICATION OF DEATH (UK) – OSCE GUIDE
Old Age/frailty as a sole cause of death (and this can only be used in those over 80) https://geekymedics.com/certification-death-uk-osce-guide/

Stan

[JAKnighton]

My great-grandmother who died in 1989 at the age of 95 simply has "old age" as her cause of death on her certificate.

My mother who was present on the day of death confirmed that there wasn't anything specifically wrong with her that could be used as an explanation instead. Her time was simply up.

[Maiden Stone]

These 2  were probably a son and his father, buried at St. James, Altham, Lancashire.
May 1824 James Husband, son of Charles; age 17. Cause of death: Consumption.
March 1825 Charles Husband; age 42. Cause of death: Decline.