ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF SUICIDE DETERMINATION

• NCJ Number: 13570
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 19 Issue: 2 Dated: (APRIL 1974) Pages: 276-283
• Author(s): G E MURPHY; G E GANTNER
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 8 pages
• Grant Number(s): MH-05938; MH-13002
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Health, Education, and Welfare
• Corporate Author: American Soc for Testing and Materials
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

EVALUATION OF A SPECIAL DATA COLLECTION FORM DESIGNED FOR FIELD INVESTIGATORS OF THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE TO USE IN CASES OF NONNATURAL DEATH.

Abstract

THE SPECIAL FORM USED BY THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY CORONER'S OFFICE COVERS 20 PERSONAL AND SOCIAL VARIABLES RELEVANT TO SUICIDE. COMPARISON OF THE DATA RECORDED THROUGH USE OF THE NEW FORM TO DATA RECORDED IN INQUIRIES MADE PRIOR TO ITS ADOPTION, SHOWED A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE RECORDING OF BOTH PERTINENT POSITIVE AND PERTINENT NEGATIVE INFORMATION RELATED TO THE LIKELIHOOD OF SUICIDE. THESE INCREASES WERE MOST MARKED IN INQUIRIES LEADING TO A VERDICT OF SUICIDE. THE NUMBER OF OPEN VERDICTS WAS SIGNIFICANTLY DECREASED. EXPERIENCE WITH THE FORM LED TO THE CONCLUSION THAT IT IS CONVENIENT TO USE AND IMPROVES THOROUGHNESS OF INVESTIGATION. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)