Determination of Suicide in South Africa: Medical Practitioner Perspectives

Decisional processes underlying the determination of suicide in the largest injury surveillance system curently available in South Africa were assessed through semi-structured interviews with 32 medical practitioners. Common themes & discrepancies in opinions emerged regarding the quality of data currently available for suicide determinations & regarding the importance & difficulty in assessing the American developed criteria in South Africa. A truly standard approach is unlikely without considerable changes to the medico-legal system. (20 refs.)