Impact of a Suicide Inquest

The impact of published reports of coroners inquests in Britain is discussed. Evidence from Barraclough & others which presents a contradictory picture of the amount of distress these proceedings cause is reviewed. Barraclough & Shepherd had first urged that inquest reports not be published but later reversed this saying that the evidence was not strong enough to justify this step. The editors of this journal agree stating that they are not in favour of any restrictions to a free press.