On the 31st day, that resident becomes a permanent tenant, a legal status that invokes all the attending state and local laws governing legal landlord-tenant relationships. According to the Medical Examiner, this term indicates the manner in which a person died, such as natural, accident, homicide, or suicide, and is considered distinctly different from the cause of death, which is a medical determination. The Medical Examiner uses this term when a medical cause of death is found but the investigative data supports two possible modes of death, each of which is possible without prejudice. As used by the Medical Examiner, this term describes any death that results from any physical disease or condition, including chronic alcohol abuse. When used by the Medical Examiner, this term refers to any unintentional and fatal physical trauma, including overdosing from illicit drugs, alcohol, or prescription medication, as well as falls, drownings, motor vehicle accidents, burns, smoke inhalation, and medical misadventures.
Homicide is the simple killing of one human being by another.
For Medical Examiners, homicides are not distinguished as to whether they were justifiable, accidental, or murder, which is the unlawful killing of a human being with malice. Such distinctions are not made by Medical Examiners but by the judicial system. Because some subtle homicides may be missed unless strong legal evidence exists, some deaths may be misclassified as natural. Suicide, as defined by Medical Examiners, is a self-inflicted and intentional death. Like homicide, suicide is never determined lightly by Medical Examiners and always represents a determination based upon data that will stand in a court of law, if necessary.