You raise an interesting question in this post. I think curiosity about the cause of death is something almost inherent in human nature.

We all know, some more consciously and openly, others subconsciously, that our time in this world is fleeting. We are all going to die. And as you said, knowing what someone died of is one of the tools that allows us to assess the degree of risk associated with a particular place, situation, etc.

Even when we know that someone has died, and that person is not so close to us, we always end up asking the second question... “But was it sudden? Were they already ill, or was it more or less expected?” And we ask these questions not only to satisfy our endless curiosity, but also to know how to react, if we have to offer our condolences to a family member or friend.

Although there is little to say to those left behind when someone dies, there is always a more appropriate way, and the cause of death can help us navigate and outline our ideas in our condolences.