title: Suicide notes and cadaveric organ donation.
abstract: A suicide note is an important tool for medico-legal investigation on the manner and circumstances surrounding the death. It can also act as a facilitator for organ donation when the victim expresses their wish to do so. This article cites four examples, where the victims had specifically mentioned a "last wish" to donate their organs. The importance of such "expressed consent" in suicide notes is discussed. Such observations are not found in available scientific literature and are of importance in countries where there is a long waiting list for organ recipients and a very large number of suicidal deaths.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India drchitta75@rediffmail.com.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Behera
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Karthik
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Krishna
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kumar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001237:Asphyxia / Q000503:physiopathology; D002102:Cadaver; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology*; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Suicide note; cadaveric organ donation; consent; wish