Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Practice Exam

Which of the following represents a broad category of causes of death?

1. Natural

2. Homicidal

3. Suicidal

4. Premeditated

The correct answer is: Natural

The correct response highlights the broad category of natural causes of death, which encompasses a wide array of health-related issues including diseases, organ failures, and other health complications that are inherent to the individual's biological processes. Natural causes typically represent a significant portion of mortality statistics primarily resulting from physiological or pathological conditions rather than external factors. In contrast, other options specify more focused categories of death. Homicidal and suicidal causes refer to deaths resulting from external actions taken by another person or by the individual themselves, respectively, and thus do not encompass the broad range of medical or health-related issues classified under natural causes. Premeditated, while suggesting intentionality in a harmful act, is too specific and typically relates only to cases that might fall under homicidal deaths, lacking the wide applicability seen with natural causes. Thus, natural causes emerge as the most inclusive classification of mortality from a public health perspective.