Guileyardo J M, Carmody T J, Lene W J, Stone I C
Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences, Dallas, Texas.
Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 1994 Dec;15(4):328-30. doi: 10.1097/00000433-199412000-00008.
In the United States, there is currently an epidemic of firearms violence. Among victims of this violence, there are striking racial and ethnic patterns in the manners and circumstances of death. This study was conducted to explore and quantitate some of these differences. Autopsy and investigation reports of 554 consecutive firearms deaths in Dallas County, Texas, from March 1992 to February 1993 were reviewed. Overall suicide rates by race for 1970 and 1990 were calculated. Suicide rates for blacks have increased while overall rates (all races) have decreased slightly. Large racial and ethnic differences in the homicide-suicide ratio (H:S) were found (0.42 in non-Hispanic whites; 7.44 in others) (p < 0.001). Non-Hispanic whites who committed suicide with a firearm were less likely than other groups to do so with another person present (12% non-Hispanic whites; 49% others) (p < 0.001). Blacks and Asians who committed suicide with a firearm killed another person in 67% of witnessed cases (those with another person present during the incident). Whites (Hispanics and non-Hispanics) killed another person in only 12% of witnessed firearm suicides. The data suggest that the subtypes, psychodynamics, and causes of suicide may currently differ among racial and ethnic groups. These differences should be considered in order to formulate adequate prevention strategies and to assess the suicide and homicide risk in depressed individuals. The difficulty of accurate death certification in some cases is also discussed.
在美国，目前枪支暴力泛滥成灾。在这种暴力行为的受害者中，死亡方式和情形存在显著的种族和民族差异。本研究旨在探究并量化其中的一些差异。回顾了1992年3月至1993年2月在得克萨斯州达拉斯县连续发生的554起枪支致死案件的尸检报告和调查报告。计算了1970年和1990年各种族的总体自杀率。黑人的自杀率上升，而总体自杀率（所有种族）略有下降。研究发现，在杀人自杀比（H:S）方面存在很大的种族和民族差异（非西班牙裔白人中为0.42；其他种族中为7.44）（p<0.001）。使用枪支自杀的非西班牙裔白人在有他人在场的情况下自杀的可能性低于其他群体（非西班牙裔白人中为12%；其他群体中为49%）（p<0.001）。在有他人目睹的案件（事件发生时有他人在场）中，使用枪支自杀的黑人和亚洲人在67%的案件中还杀死了另一个人。白人（西班牙裔和非西班牙裔）在有他人目睹的枪支自杀案件中，只有12%的人还杀死了另一个人。数据表明，目前自杀的亚型、心理动力学和原因在不同种族和民族群体中可能存在差异。在制定适当的预防策略以及评估抑郁症患者的自杀和杀人风险时，应考虑这些差异。同时还讨论了某些情况下准确进行死亡认证的困难。
