Tag Archives: Cause of Death

Can People Die of a Broken Heart?

Recent media coverage reports this possibility, but what is the science behind it?

On Dec. 27, 2016, actress Carrie Fisher had a cardiac arrest on a flight from London to Los Angeles. The “Star Wars” icon was just 15 minutes away from landing in Los Angeles when the heart attack occurred. She was … Continue reading

Posted in Something Special | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

How Can a Family Best Work with a Coroner or Medical Examiner? Interview with Judy Melinek, Part Two

Working with a professional when an autopsy is required

Today, SevenPonds completes our interview with Judy Melinek, M.D., a forensic pathologist who does autopsies for the Alameda County Sheriff Coroner’s Office in California. (Read part one of the interview here.) Dr. Melinek has a bachelor’s degree from Harvard and … Continue reading

Posted in Professional Advice | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Study Estimates Medical Error Is Third Leading Cause of Death in USA

A recent study from John Hopkins University urges systemic change to reduce medical error

Researchers at John Hopkins School of Medicine published a report in The BMJ earlier this month that estimates that preventable medical error is the third leading cause of death in the United States. Medical error includes surgical complications that go … Continue reading

Posted in Something Special | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Whitney Houston Dead from Unknown Causes

The legendary singer/actress autopsy and toxicology report underway

Whitney Houston, singer of “I Will Always Love You,” has died at just 48 years old from a suspected drug overdose. There were “no signs of criminal intent.” Houston has left an incredible legacy behind her, as the recipient of … Continue reading

Posted in Just Passed | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments