Surveillance of hospital-presenting intentional self-harm in Western Sydney, Australia, during the implementation of a new self-harm reporting field

Background: Hospital-presenting self-harm is a strong predictor of suicide and has substantial human and health service costs. Aims: We aimed to identify changes in case ascertainment after implementation of a new self-harm reporting field at a tertiary hospital in New South Wales, and to report event rates, demographic, and clinical characteristics. Method: Self-harm events presenting to the emergency department (October […]

Assessing the impact of suicide exclusion periods on life insurance.

We study the impact of suicide-exclusion periods, common in life insurance policies in Australia, on suicide and accidental death rates for life-insured individuals. If a life-insured individual dies by suicide during the period of suicide exclusion, commonly 13 months, the sum insured is not paid. Aims: We examine whether a suicide-exclusion period affects the timing […]

A study on the effect of exclusion period on the suicidal risk among the insured.

Highlights •The increase in suicides is suggested to link with the no exclusion period life insurance policy. •The suicide risk after the usual 12 month exclusion period in Hong Kong is higher than usual. •The payment of claims arising from insured suicide deaths is higher than that of other death claims. •Some changes to the […]

The impact of mental health insurance laws on state suicide rates

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An Enquiry Into Suicide, Actual and Potential, From the Standpoint of the Life Insurance Underwriter

This presentation discussed the problems associated with potential suicides applying for life insurance. Underwriters cannot rely on the two-year suicide exclusion permitted by law but must attempt to identify the suicide-prone applicant & assess the risk of suicide as scientifically as possible. These issues were studied using data from suicide claims filed with the Great-West […]

Suicides and Accident Insurance: the Court of Appeal Issues a Ruling

This article discusses a case in which the Quebec Court of Appeal was called upon to decide whether or not an insurer who issued an accident insurance policy could refuse a claim following a suicide which occurred more than two years after the coming into effect of the policy.

Dealing With Suicide Occurring Within two Years of Reinstatement of a Life Insurance Policy

This article briefly reviews two rulings by the Quebec Superior Court dealing with the suicide of an insured party less than two years after reinstatement of the insured’s policy. Contradictory judgments were rendered.

Suicide in a Cultural History Perspective, Part 2. Modern History and Legislation

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On Sound and Unsound Mind: the Role of Suicide in Tort and Insurance Litigation

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Commentary: Responsibility and Insurance Coverage of the Mentally ill

The Effect of Life Insurance Policy Provisions on Suicide Rates

Appendix B: Getting More of What is Needed From Your Patient’s Managed Care Organization (IN: Treatment of Suicidal Patients in Managed Care, ed. by J M Ellison)

For the full book, please see SIEC #2005-0874

Estate Planning and Suicide

This article assesses evidence of suicidal ideation in estate planning. Menninger’s (1938) classification of motives for suicide & American civil statutes pertaining to suicide are presented. 5 sets of information to assess suicide risk are included to make estate planners sensitive to suicidal tendencies their clients may be experiencing. (4 refs) (SC)

Suicide and Life Insurance

This article analyzed whether or not insurance companies would pay life insurance when the policyholder died by suicide. Results indicate that many insurance companies will refund the premiums paid to date if the policyholder dies by suicide within two years of the date the policy was initially issued. Once two years have passed many insurance […]

Suicide and Epilepsy (IN: Epilepsy and Psychiatry, edited by E Reynolds and M Trimble)

This article explores the association between epilepsy and suicide, through a review of the epilepsy literature produced between 1940 and 1979. A total of 11 papers were found from which it was possible to derive some evidence about the incidence of suicide in epileptics, which dealt specifically with the topics of temporal lobe epilepsy, epileptic […]

Police Suicide

In this commentary, the author states the police suicide rate is over 3 times that of the general population (no source provided for this statistic). He also asserts that many police suicides are purposefully misclassified on death certificates as accidents, or undertermined deaths, for insurance purposes.

How to get Professional Help for a Suicidal Person and Remain Involved (IN: Clergy Response to Suicidal Persons and Their Family Members, edited by D C Clark)

This chapter reviews issues that arise when clergy try to help suicidal persons engage in treatment, examines problems that may be encountered when making referrals into the mental health system, looks at practical skills inherent to the clergy & unique qualities of pastoral care, & provides techniques for facing predictable problems. It describes good pastoral […]

Suicide as a Compensable Claim Under Workers’ Compensation Statutes: a Guide for the Lawyer and the Psychiatrist

This article notes that many courts have been forced to consider the issue of whether an employee’s suicide which follows a compensable on-the-job injury should constitute a separate ground for worker’s compensation benefits. It calls for more consistency in these adjudications. The article examines 4 types of analyses courts use to establish direct causal relationship […]

Suicide and Malpractice Liability: Assessing and Revising Policies, Procedures, and Practice in Outpatient Settings

Policies & procedures, & liability & malpractice issues related to working with suicidal outpatients are addressed. Issues related to ethical practice are raised, recommendations for risk management are discussed, & a step-by-step model, complete with agency & patient forms, for establishing, assessing, &/or revising policies & procedures is presented. Suggestions are made to improve clinical […]

Problems in the Care of Suicidal Patients

The issue of suicide is discussed from the perspective that the majority of suicides coincide with mental illness. The discussion then moves to discuss the need for reform in how psychiatric care is funded in the U.S.. The author concludes by claiming, reforms of civil commitment laws are needed. Regulatory and licensing agencies need regulation […]

Forensic Suicidology and the Psychological Autopsy (IN: Suicidology: Essays in Honor of Edwin S. Shneidman, edited by A A Leenaars)

This chapter looks at issues involved in having the psychological autopsy being brought into the courtroom. The authors review the union between suicidology and the law, which typically involves two types of cases, those of parens patrieae, and those of contested life insurance claims. With respect to the psychological autopsy the authors conclude, rather than […]

Death and AIDS: a Review of the Medico-Legal Literature

This article discusses the fact that there is still neither a known cure for AIDS nor a vaccine to prevent infection from HIV. The article then examines some of the medico-legal issues associated with AIDS related death such as estate planning, discrimination, insurance, long-term care, the right to die, and suicide as detailed in medical/legal […]

Case Consultation: the Case of Paul Framson

The case of Paul Framson, a 56-year-old futures broker, is presented. After his sudden death, 4 life insurance companies denied payment of death benefits claiming that Framson had committed suicide. When denied benefits, the insured’s estate may challenge the medical examiner’s determination of cause of death. This case illustrates the role played by suicidologists in […]