Uncertainty of Determining Mode and the Cause of Death Without Autopsy: An Autopsy Study of Medically Unattended Non-Medicolegal Deaths

87 cases of medically unattended deaths were autopsied & investigated for alcohol & barbiturate after the general practioner had certified death. In all cases, the mode of death was certified as natural before the autopsy. After autopsy & chemical ananlysis, the mode of death differed in 5 cases (5.7%): 2 were suicides, 1 was accidental, 2 were unknown. (8 ref.) (NBB)