"The manner of death is different from the cause of death.
I don't see the difference. Can you explain?"
In more explicit terms:
What is the CAUSE and MANNER of death on the death certificate?
The cause of death is the specific reason that a person dies, for example a stab wound to the abdomen, gunshot wound to the head, asthma, atherosclerotic heart disease, blunt impacts to the head and torso, hanging, drug intoxication or AIDS. These are only several examples. The manner of death falls under one of several categories: homicide, accident, suicide, natural or undetermined. Some jurisdictions utilize another category, therapeutic complication. The cause and manner of death are always listed on the death certificate.
What is the MECHANISM of death?
The mechanism of death is the physiologic reason for a person's death. Etiologically, it is nonspecific, and does not specify the underlying or proximate cause of death. It is generally not placed on the death certificate. Examples are sepsis, shock, electrical irritability of the heart or brain, seizures, exsanguination, cardiac tamponade, pulmonary thromboemboli, and asphyxia.
http://www.forensiconline.com/generallink.htm#a27
Great FAQ post by a "Joseph I. Cohen, M.D., Forensic Pathologist"
Okay. So for Terri, the cause of death would be dehydration/starvation. Manner of death would be. . .? (Not sure how it would be categorized by the coroner or ME. I know what I'd call it.)