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Complete suicides and parasuicides are a major cause of death and disability in South Africa and the rest of the world. The epidemiology, pathology and toxicology of complete suicides were investigated in this study. All the complete suicide cases, which were presented to Salt River Medicolegal Laboratory over a period of one year (1 January 1997 - 31 December 1997), were analysed. The candidate personally conducted 148 of the alleged 180 suicide cases that presented in this time period (82%). The candidate did all the follow up investigations herself. The main findings were: 1. The male to female ratio was 5: 1. (131: 26) 2. Shooting and hanging were the most commonly used methods. 3. The racial distribution of violent deaths showed a high rate of suicides amongst the White population. 4. Suicides accounted for the Joss of young lives, the average age being 37,8 years. The mean age was 34 years. 5. Most victims committed suicide in and around their own homes. 6. The majority did not leave suicide notes. 7. Psychiatric disorders, poor health, arguments with close family members and friends, financial problems and long-standing relationship problems were the most common reasons for the suicides. 8. Suicides by prisoners accounted for 3,8% of the study (6 cases). 9. Two cases of double suicide (group suicide) were identified. 10. Five cases of homicide-suicide were identified in the study material. 11. One case of an attempted suicide by means of a high-speed motor vehicle accident, followed by the successful suicide by other means, was identified.

Includes abstract., Includes bibliographical references (leaves 85-92)., The Forensic Chemistry Laboratory, Cape Town, analyses samples submitted by forensic pathologists in order to assist with determining the cause of death in cases of unnatural death. Many of these samples test positive for the presence of drugs and other toxic substances. Because of resource constraints, pathologists submit samples at their discretion and not on a routine basis. In this study, forensic and chemical aspects were combined and used as the motivation for the development of an improved extraction procedure for systematic toxicological analysis. The scope of the study was therefore twofold. Firstly, a study was undertaken of unnatural deaths in the greater Cape Town area for which samples would not normally have been submitted.