In this letter to the editors of “The Lancet”, Barraclough & Shepherd take issue with an editorial in which their work on the impact of suicide inquests was reviewed (see SIEC #832054). Barraclough & Shepherd argue that suicide inquests should not be reported & that they do increase the distress of surviving relatives. They state that the principle of openness in the administration of justice is important, but that the distress occasioned is a more important consideration.