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Medications without a patient: potential lethal implications of pharmaceuticals left behind
- Source :
- Crisis. 35(4)
- Publication Year :
- 2014
-
Abstract
- Background: Little has been published on the sources of medications used in suicide by self-poisoning. Aims: To examine data on self-poisoning occurring through the use of medications returned to the next of kin after the death of a family member or friend (”returned medication”) and to examine public policies relevant to this issue. Method: A review of charts at the Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario for deaths by self-poisoning suicide in the City of Toronto occurring between 1998 and 2010 was conducted. Information regarding the source of medication used in self-poisoning was extracted. Federal, provincial, and local policies were also examined to determine whether there are guidelines governing returning medication to next of kin. Results: Of 567 suicide deaths by self-poisoning in Toronto over 13 years, there were eight cases in which returned medication was used in suicide by self-poisoning. No policies prohibiting this type of medication return were identified. Conclusion: Suicide by self-poisoning using returned medications is an important consideration that may not yet be fully appreciated, and has relevance for suicide prevention policies.
- Subjects :
- Ontario
medicine.medical_specialty
Prescription Drugs
Next of kin
business.industry
Poison control
Human factors and ergonomics
Public Policy
medicine.disease
Left behind
Suicide prevention
Occupational safety and health
Coroner
Psychiatry and Mental health
Suicide
Family medicine
Injury prevention
Medicine
Drug and Narcotic Control
Humans
Family
Medical emergency
Drug Overdose
business
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 21512396
- Volume :
- 35
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Crisis
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....9e1b8de1b29219bc9c5fd9b53d9a4e25