Operational Criteria for Determining Suicide

Results of a U.S. working group to develop operational criteria to assist coroners & medical examiners in determining suicide. Criteria included evidence that death was self-inflicted, & evidence, either explicit &/or implicit, that at the time, the decedent intended to kill himself, or wished to die, & understood the probable consequences of his actions. Implications of coroners not reporting suicide was also discussed. (CM)