CERTIFICATION OF DEATHS FROM NARCOTISM AND OTHER PSYCHOACTIVE DRUGS OF ABUSE (FROM GUIDE TO THE INVESTIGATION AND REPORTING OF DRUG-ABUSE DEATHS PROBLEMS AND METHODS, BY L A GOTTSCHALK - SEE NCJ-44092)

• NCJ Number: 44098
• Author(s): M HELPERN
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 8 pages
• Corporate Author: US Dept of Health, Education, and Welfare
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE IMPORTANCE OF PROPER CERTIFICATION OF THE CAUSE OF DEATH, PARTICULARLY IN DRUG-RELATED DEATHS, IS STRESSED. A VALID CAUSE OF DEATH MUST BE DESCRIBED WITHIN A FRAMEWORK OF CIRCUMSTANCES, CLINICAL HISTORY AND AUTOPSY.

Abstract

THE FUNCTION OF CORONERS AND MEDICAL EXAMINERS IN DETERMINING CAUSE OF DEATH IS OUTLINED, AS WELL AS THE ROLE OF AN AUTOPSY IN POSTMORTEM EXAMINATION. CIRCUMSTANCES PRECEDING DEATH MUST BE CONSIDERED IN ESTABLISHING CAUSE OF DEATH. A DISTINCTION IS MADE BETWEEN 'PINPOINT' CAUSE OF DEATH, IN WHICH A SINGLE ELEMENT OR CAUSE IS ASSIGNED, AND 'FRAMEWORK' CAUSE OF DEATH, IN WHICH A SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH CULMINATED IN DEATH IS DESCRIBED. TWO CASE FRAMEWORK DIAGNOSES OF DRUG-RELATED DEATHS ARE PRESENTED TO SHOW THE ADVANTAGES OF THIS TYPE OF CAUSE-OF-DEATH DETERMINATION. IN COMPLEX CASES OF CERTIFICATION OF CAUSE OF DEATH IN NARCOTIC ADDICTS AND OTHER PSYCHOACTIVE DRUG-RELATED DEATHS, FORENSIC PATHOLOGISTS, MEDICAL EXAMINERS, AND CORONERS MUST BECOME AWARE OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE MEANINGFUL INFORMATION ABOUT CAUSE OF DEATH AND SHOULD AVOID PINPOINT DETERMINATIONS IN SUCH SITUATIONS.