Suicide in the hospital

A study of suicide victims, who completed their terminal act while hospitalized, was performed on the case files of the Office of the Medical Examiner of Metropolitan Dade County in Miami, Florida, during the years 1980 through 1984. A total of 14 cases out of 1572 suicides, which occurred in Dade County during the time period, were collected. These cases are presented in some detail followed by a discussion concerning the implications for all physicians and what can be done to avoid such tragedies.