Citation

Simon RI. J. Forensic Sci. 1998; 43(6): 1119-1123.

Affiliation

Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1998, American Society for Testing and Materials, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

9846387

Abstract

Postmortem assessments of suicide risk factors present at the time of death were used to expose a murder masquerading as a suicide. Postmortem assessment of clinically based suicide risk factors in equivocal suicide cases should readily meet prevailing evidentiary criteria of "reasonableness." Assessing the presence or absence of suicide risk factors can assist in clarifying the question of suicide intent at the time of death. However, discerning the motives for suicide is usually a more difficult task. Forensic opinions should avoid conclusory statements that invade the province of the fact finder in determining criminal responsibility.

Language: en