The 'Funnel Effect' & Recovered Bodies of Unauthorized Migrants Processed by the Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner, 1990-2005

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raquel Rubio-Goldsmith ◽  
Melissa McCormick ◽  
Daniel Martinez ◽  
Inez Duarte
Keyword(s):  
Medical Examiner ◽  
Pima County

A Continued Humanitarian Crisis at the Border: Undocumented Border Crosser Deaths Recorded by the Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner, 1990-2012

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel E. Martinez ◽  
Robin Reineke ◽  
Raquel Rubio-Goldsmith ◽  
Bruce E. Anderson ◽  
Gregory L. Hess ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medical Examiner ◽  
Humanitarian Crisis ◽  
Pima County

scholarly journals Environmental Deaths in Southern Arizona

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin M. Lougee ◽  
Gregory L. Hess ◽  
David C. Winston
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Retrospective Study ◽  
Sonoran Desert ◽  
The United States ◽  
Medical Examiner ◽  
Electronic Database ◽  
Pima County ◽  
Mexico Border ◽  
Border Crossers

Introduction The Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner (PCOME) maintains medicolegal jurisdiction over Southern Arizona, which includes the Sonoran Desert and the Arizona/Mexico border. Given the unique climate and biodiversity of the Sonoran Desert coupled with the Mexican border, environmental-related deaths are represented in proportions different from other jurisdictions in the United States. Methods A retrospective study of deaths falling into one of five categories (hyperthermia, hypothermia, undetermined with skeletal and/or mummified modifiers, venom-related, and lightning) certified by the PCOME between January 1, 2010 and December 1, 2017 was conducted by searching the PCOME electronic database. Results and Discussion Of the 16 649 cases certified by the office during that time, 639 were categorized into one of the above five categories. Hyperthermia cases were the most common, followed by undetermined, hypothermia, venom-related, and lightning. A unique population of individuals referred to as undocumented border crossers (UBCs) is discussed and accounted for 470 of the 639 deaths.

Structural Violence and Migrant Deaths in Southern Arizona: Data from the Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner, 1990–2013

2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 257-286 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel E. Martínez ◽  
Robin C. Reineke ◽  
Raquel Rubio-Goldsmith ◽  
Bruce O. Parks
Keyword(s):  
Structural Violence ◽  
Medical Examiner ◽  
Pima County

scholarly journals Parachute Deaths in Southern Arizona

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 649-656
Author(s):  
Rose Cronin ◽  
David C. Winston
Keyword(s):  
Retrospective Study ◽  
Coronary Artery ◽  
Military Training ◽  
Medical Examiner ◽  
Manner Of Death ◽  
Blunt Force ◽  
Coronary Artery Atherosclerosis ◽  
Pima County ◽  
Scene Investigation

Introduction Parachuting is said to be a relatively safe activity. We sought to undertake a study to assess parachute-related deaths in our jurisdiction. Methods A retrospective study of parachute-related deaths in Southern Arizona was conducted by searching the Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner database between 2001 and 2016. This search revealed 24 deaths. Results The decedents ranged from 19 to 61 years of age, with a median age of 36 years. Twenty-two of the decedents were male. The racial breakdown was 22 white, one Asian, and one not recorded. The manner of death in all cases was classified as an accident. All deaths were due to multiple blunt force injuries and only one case was found to have no injuries to the head or neck. The most common circumstances were failure of chute deployment (seven), mid-air collisions (three), and becoming entangled with other parachutists (three). Six deaths occurred during military training. Four of the nonmilitary decedents were described as “experienced” parachutists and one case involved a tandem jump team with a survivor. Natural disease was found in four cases with three having moderate coronary artery atherosclerosis. Toxicology was performed in 21 of the deaths with three positive for cannabinoids, one positive for 7-aminoclonazepam, and one positive for 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). Discussion Parachuting is a relatively safe activity, with very few deaths. Investigation of these deaths should include a complete autopsy with toxicology as well as a thorough scene investigation and evaluation of the jumper's equipment.

Structural Violence and Migrant Deaths in Southern Arizona: Data from the Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner, 1990-2013

2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 257-286 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel E. Martínez ◽  
Robin C. Reineke ◽  
Raquel Rubio-Goldsmith ◽  
Bruce O. Parks
Keyword(s):  
Structural Violence ◽  
Medical Examiner ◽  
Pima County

Child and Adolescent Suicide Deaths in New Mexico, 1990-1994

Crisis ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
DD Werenko ◽  
LM Olson ◽  
L Fullerton-Gleason ◽  
AW Lynch ◽  
RE Zumwalt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Mexico ◽  
Cause Of Death ◽  
American Indians ◽  
Adolescent Suicide ◽  
Suicide Attempts ◽  
Medical Examiner ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Targeted Interventions ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Youth Activity

The suicide death rate in New Mexico is consistently higher than the national rate. Among adolescents, suicide is the third leading cause of death nationally, but in New Mexico it is the second leading cause of death. This study describes the pattern of adolescent suicide deaths in New Mexico. We conducted a retrospective review of all medical examiner autopsies for adolescent suicides (ages 20 years and younger) in New Mexico from 1990-1994. Records were reviewed for demographics and possible contributing factors such as depression, previous attempts, and alcohol and drug use. We identified 184 suicide deaths among children and adolescents ages 9-20 years for an overall rate of 12.9 per 100,000. Our rates for ages 5-9 years (0.2), 10-14 years (3.8), and 15-19 years (22.3) are over twice the U.S. rates. Suicide deaths resulted primarily from firearms (67%), hanging (16%), poisoning (6%), inhalation (4%), and other methods (7%). Method varied by ethnicity (p = .01) and gender (p = .03); males and non-Hispanic Whites were overrepresented among firearm deaths. Firearm ownership was known in 60 (48%) of the firearm deaths. Of these, 53% of the firearms belonged to a family member, 25% to the decedent, and 22% to a friend. Over one-third of decedents (41%) experienced mental disorders, primarily depressed mood and clinical depression. Previous suicide attempts were noted for 15% of the decedents. Some 50% of the decedents had alcohol or drugs present at the time of death; among American Indians/Alaska Natives, 74% had drugs or alcohol present (p = .003). Targeted interventions are needed to reduce adolescent suicide in New Mexico. We suggest raising awareness about acute and chronic contributing factors to suicide; training physicians to look for behavioral manifestations of depression; and involving physicians, teachers, and youth activity leaders in efforts to limit firearm accessibility, such as advising parents to remove firearms from their households.

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