114 patients who consulted a doctor in the week preceding their suicide were reviewed & compared with 286 suicides who did not. Psychiatric illness, deteriorating health, loss of a spouse, & a previous attempt were factors seen more often in the clinical-contact group. Drug overdose was the most common method used; 78% of overdoses were with prescribed drugs. 50% of the 114 clinical-contact patients committed suicide within 24 hours of their last visit; 43% of the visits were to get more drugs.