Posted September 4, 2014 8:56 PM ET; Last updated September 28, 2014 7:10 PM ET
Here's another case of police in New Hampshire making cause of death determinations without the medical examiner. It appears to be a pervasive practice. But also why do journalists repeat whatever police say? That is another bigger issue because they mislead taxpayers, voters and decision makers. A New Hampshire television news service reported that the police chief made the assertion. He added that the medical examiner needed to clean it up. So who needs medical examiners? Just as who needs psychiatrists if police, parents, children, lovers, neighbors can make psychiatric diagnoses, and journalists relate what they say?
http://www.wmur.com/news/amtrak-downeaster-hits-kills-woman-on-tracks/28239426
By Renee Anderson
Amtrak Downeaster hits, kills woman on tracks
Police believe this was case of suicide
UPDATED 10:22 AM EDT Sep 25, 2014
* * *
Updated September 12, 2014 6:36 PM ET
This article was updated by Sara Feijo on the Cambridge Chronicle site, on September 9, 2014. The ridiculous comments by the Police Director of Communications, who never responded to my inquiry, were removed and these paragraphs were added.
MIT later identified the man as graduate student Austin Travis in an email sent out to the school’s community. Travis, a Pleasantville, New York, native, was a chemistry student, who also took an interest in biology, exploring protein structure, function and design.
"Our hearts go out to his family and friends in their sorrow," wrote MIT President L. Rafael Reif.
MIT did not release any information about the cause of death. Cambridge Police officials said they are still investigating, but said the death was not a homicide. As of Tuesday evening, Sept. 9, the state's Medical Examiner had not yet determined the cause of death, according to Terrel Harris, spokesperson for the state's Medical Examiner.
* * *
[No response to email sent on Thursday September 4, 2014 to Cambridge Police Director of Communications]
Police believe this was case of suicide
UPDATED 10:22 AM EDT Sep 25, 2014
* * *
Updated September 12, 2014 6:36 PM ET
This article was updated by Sara Feijo on the Cambridge Chronicle site, on September 9, 2014. The ridiculous comments by the Police Director of Communications, who never responded to my inquiry, were removed and these paragraphs were added.
MIT later identified the man as graduate student Austin Travis in an email sent out to the school’s community. Travis, a Pleasantville, New York, native, was a chemistry student, who also took an interest in biology, exploring protein structure, function and design.
"Our hearts go out to his family and friends in their sorrow," wrote MIT President L. Rafael Reif.
MIT did not release any information about the cause of death. Cambridge Police officials said they are still investigating, but said the death was not a homicide. As of Tuesday evening, Sept. 9, the state's Medical Examiner had not yet determined the cause of death, according to Terrel Harris, spokesperson for the state's Medical Examiner.
* * *
[No response to email sent on Thursday September 4, 2014 to Cambridge Police Director of Communications]
Hello Jeremy Warnick. Cambridge Chronicle
http://cambridge.wickedlocal.com/article/20140904/NEWS/140908615
quotes you as saying about the 26-year-old man found dead at 10 Forest Street, "It’s a very unfortunate situation from someone who appears to have suffered from a psychological issue, likely depression."
Are you a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist? On what do you base your diagnosis? Are you speaking for the Cambridge police department or the city of Cambridge? This is a serious inquiry. Pervasive among police, journalists and lawyers is an eagerness to make such diagnoses and report them contrary to state and US privacy laws. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
[End email message]
In addition there is the issue of making a medical determination of the cause of death. That is a job for the medical examiner. But the Cambridge Director of Communications has already suggested he knows the cause. In a recent feature on NBC News Dateline, "Burning Suspicion,"
quotes you as saying about the 26-year-old man found dead at 10 Forest Street, "It’s a very unfortunate situation from someone who appears to have suffered from a psychological issue, likely depression."
Are you a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist? On what do you base your diagnosis? Are you speaking for the Cambridge police department or the city of Cambridge? This is a serious inquiry. Pervasive among police, journalists and lawyers is an eagerness to make such diagnoses and report them contrary to state and US privacy laws. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
[End email message]
In addition there is the issue of making a medical determination of the cause of death. That is a job for the medical examiner. But the Cambridge Director of Communications has already suggested he knows the cause. In a recent feature on NBC News Dateline, "Burning Suspicion,"
http://www.nbcnews.com/video/dateline/53260603/#53260603
an instructor at the Kansas Law Enforcement Center, Brett Seacat, was found guilty of killing his wife and making it appear as a suicide. It is not a unique case. What inspired the Cambridge Director of Communications of the Police department to make such an outrageous statement to the media?
an instructor at the Kansas Law Enforcement Center, Brett Seacat, was found guilty of killing his wife and making it appear as a suicide. It is not a unique case. What inspired the Cambridge Director of Communications of the Police department to make such an outrageous statement to the media?
[From article]
"It’s a very unfortunate situation from someone who appears to have suffered from a psychological issue, likely depression." [Jeremy Warnick, Director of communications for the Cambridge Police Department]
http://cambridge.wickedlocal.com/article/20140904/NEWS/140908615
Police investigating Cambridge man’s apparent suicide
By Sara Feijo
sfeijo (at) wickedlocal.com
Posted Sep. 4, 2014 @ 10:02 am
Updated at 10:41 AM
CAMBRIDGE Chronicle
"It’s a very unfortunate situation from someone who appears to have suffered from a psychological issue, likely depression." [Jeremy Warnick, Director of communications for the Cambridge Police Department]
http://cambridge.wickedlocal.com/article/20140904/NEWS/140908615
Police investigating Cambridge man’s apparent suicide
By Sara Feijo
sfeijo (at) wickedlocal.com
Posted Sep. 4, 2014 @ 10:02 am
Updated at 10:41 AM
CAMBRIDGE Chronicle
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