A more thorough explanation:

DONATIO MORTIS CAUSA

Donatio mortis causa is a type of gift given by a person who believes they are about to die. It is also known as a gift causa mortis. The gift is only valid if the person dies from the illness or event they believed would cause their death.

An example of donatio mortis causa is when a person gives their car to their nephew because they believe they will not survive a surgery they are about to undergo. If the person dies from the surgery, the gift is valid and the nephew can keep the car. However, if the person survives the surgery, the gift is not valid and the car must be returned.

Another example is when a person gives their jewelry to their best friend because they believe they will not survive a terminal illness. If the person dies from the illness, the gift is valid and the friend can keep the jewelry. But if the person recovers from the illness, the gift is not valid and the jewelry must be returned.

Donatio mortis causa is a legal term that refers to a specific type of gift. It is important to note that the gift is only valid if the person dies from the illness or event they believed would cause their death. The examples illustrate how the gift works in practice and how it can be valid or invalid depending on the circumstances.