Accidental drug deaths in Fulton County, Georgia, 2002: characteristics, case management and certification issues

The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology
Jason K Graham, Randy Hanzlick

Abstract

Historically, the duty of the medical examiner in assigning cause and manner of death in drug-related death cases has been fraught with controversial challenges. The lack of standardization in certifying drug-related deaths may involve differences among practicing forensic pathologists in their approach to such cases. The central objectives of the present study include characterization of current drug death patterns and the variability among medical examiners with respect to autopsy performance and death certification practices in one county medical examiner's office. Death certificates, scene information/investigative reports, autopsy reports, and toxicological laboratory results for each of the 100 cases of drug-related death occurring in 2002 in Fulton County, Georgia were reviewed. Comparison of overall autopsy rates and autopsy rates in drug-related death cases for each medical examiner individually and for the group collectively was performed. In examining cocaine-related deaths (most common), statistical analysis was performed for comparison of drug concentrations (cocaine and benzoylecgonine) between deaths certified as cocaine toxicity (poisoning) versus cocaine-complicating disease or causing an adverse event such as ...Continue Reading

References

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May 7, 1993·Science

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Citations

May 5, 2010·Journal of Urban Health : Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine·Isabelle SternfeldPatti L Culross
Jul 9, 2009·BMC Public Health·Sandra K SchwarczMitchell H Katz
May 1, 2010·The Journal of Pain : Official Journal of the American Pain Society·C Richard ChapmanConstance M Weisner
Sep 10, 2009·Journal of Forensic Sciences·Deborah L Zvosec, Stephen W Smith

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