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Kris Sperry, MD
Office of the Medical Investigator University of New Mexico School of Medicine Albuquerque

JAMA. 1988;260(17):2506.

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In Reply. —

Although Mr Clarke's letter sheds some light on a few interesting aspects of drug abuse perceptions within the United Kingdom during the early parts of this century, nonetheless the lack of certainty that is conveyed by the literature he cites renders effective scrutiny rather difficult. The legal requirements under which forensic pathologists operate leave little room for speculation within the framework of death certificates or other legal documents, so it is virtually impossible legitimately to sign a death certificate listing the cause as suspected suicide by hypodermic injection of cocaine. If there exists no definitive evidence (in the form of notes, letters, or other communications) that clearly delineates suicidal ideation, vague suggestions by officially designated but inexperienced medical investigators regarding intent merely perpetuate the misconceptions that surround the proper and accurate manner of death certification.

The number of cocaine or other illicit drug "suicides" as reflected in . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

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