Coroners and Suicide

This article examines the accuracy of suicide statistics & the role that the coroner has in judging suicide as cause of death in the United Kingdom. The author stresses the high degree of evidence needed to deem a death a suicide, citing that the Court of Appeal stated that suicide requires an intention to kill oneself which must be affirmatively approved. Social stigma associated with coronersÕ verdicts of suicide & relatives’ reactions to coronersÕ investigations are discussed. (9 refs) (SC)