Use of the National Register of Medico-Legal Autopsies in Epidemiological Suicide Research

This study sought to determine the reliability of the Finnish National Register of Medicolegal Autopsies by comparing its data with cause-of-death statistics published by the Central Statistical Office of Finland & to assess its usefulness for epidemiological forensic research. The comprehensivesness of the register over the period 1986-1991 was studied in general terms & tested by checking the inclusion of known physician suicides during that period. Coverage of the Register concerning definite suicides was 97% as compared with cause-of-death statistics. It is concluded the register is reliable enough to allow changes in causes & manners of death to be examined in the relatively small homogeneous population of Finland. (21 refs.) JA