Appendix B: Coroner and medical examiner cases by age group and manner

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Natural deaths account for the largest proportion—and the majority in most provinces—of C/ME investigations involving the death of a person aged 0 to 11 months (49% to 83% in the provinces; Table B-1). This is generally followed by undetermined deaths and accidents, with only a small number of homicides. This is the age group with the highest proportion of cases for which the manner of death could not be determined. The smaller jurisdictions investigated very few deaths in this age group.

Table B-1
Distribution of deaths of people aged 0 to 11 months investigated by a C/ME, by manner of death, Provinces and Territories, 2006 to 2008

Natural deaths account for the largest proportion—and the majority in most provinces and territories—of C/ME investigations involving the death of a person aged 12 to 23 months (43% to 67% in the provinces; Table B-2). This is generally followed by accidents and undetermined deaths, with only a small number of homicides. The smaller jurisdictions investigated very few, if any, deaths in this age group.

Table B-2
Distribution of deaths of people aged 12 to 23 months investigated by a C/ME, by manner of death, Provinces and Territories, 2006 to 2008

Depending on the province, accidental or natural deaths accounted for the largest proportion of C/ME investigations involving the death of a person aged 2 to 4 years (32% to 68% and 17% to 56% respectively; Table B-3), with the other representing the second largest. Homicides and undetermined deaths accounted for only a small number of cases. The smaller jurisdictions investigated very few, if any, deaths in this age group.

Table B-3
Distribution of deaths of people aged 2 to 4 years investigated by a C/ME, by manner of death, Provinces and Territories, 2006 to 2008

Depending on the province, accidental or natural deaths accounted for the largest proportion of C/ME investigations involving the death of a person aged 5 to 9 years (41% to 82% and 16% to 52% respectively; Table B-4), with the other representing the second largest. Homicides and undetermined deaths accounted for only a small number of cases. The smaller jurisdictions investigated very few, if any, deaths in this age group.

Table B-4
Distribution of deaths of people aged 5 to 9 years investigated by a C/ME, by manner of death, Provinces and Territories, 2006 to 2008

Accidental deaths accounted for the largest proportion of C/ME investigations involving the death of a person aged 10 to 12 years (38% to 74%; Table B-5), with natural deaths (9% to 50%) representing the second largest. This is the youngest age group for which suicides were observed. Homicides and undetermined deaths accounted for only a small number of cases. The smaller jurisdictions investigated very few, if any, deaths in this age group.

Table B-5
Distribution of deaths of people aged 10 to 12 years investigated by a C/ME, by manner of death, Provinces and Territories, 2006 to 2008

Accidental deaths accounted for the largest proportion of C/ME investigations involving the death of a person aged 13 to 14 years (43% to 58%; Table B-6). Depending on the province, natural deaths or suicides represented the second largest (5% to 40% and 7% to 36% respectively). The smaller jurisdictions investigated very few, if any, deaths in this age group.

Table B-6
Distribution of deaths of people aged 13 to 14 years investigated by a C/ME, by manner of death, Provinces and Territories, 2006 to 2008

In all jurisdictions, accidental deaths accounted for the largest proportion of C/MEs investigations involving the death of a person aged 15 to 29 years (46% to 67%; Table B-7). Suicides represented the second largest proportion (14% to 33%), with natural deaths representing about 11% of C/ME investigations. Smaller proportions were attributed to homicides and undetermined deaths (around 8% and 6 % respectively).

Table B-7
Distribution of deaths of people aged 15 to 29 years investigated by a C/ME, by manner of death, Provinces and Territories, 2006 to 2008

With the exception of Quebec, natural or accidental deaths accounted for the greatest proportion of C/ME investigations among people aged 30 to 49 years in all provinces and territories, with the other representing the second largest, and suicides the third (23% to 60%, 23% to 65% and 10% to 21% respectively; Table B-8). In Quebec, the number of deaths deemed suicides (1,446) outnumbered both the number deemed natural (909) and accidental (1,107).

Table B-8
Distribution of deaths of people aged 30 to 49 years investigated by a C/ME, by manner of death, Provinces and Territories, 2006 to 2008

Natural deaths accounted for the greatest proportion of C/ME investigations among people aged 50 to 69 years in all provinces and territories (45% to 81%; Table B-9), with accidental deaths representing the second largest (13% to 28%). Exceptionally, in Quebec, the number of deaths deemed suicides (1,080) slightly outnumbered those deemed natural (1,041).

Table B-9
Distribution of deaths of people aged 50 to 69 years investigated by a C/ME, by manner of death, Provinces and Territories, 2006 to 2008

Natural deaths accounted for the majority C/ME investigations among people aged 70 to 89 years in all provinces and territories (57% to 91%; Table B-10), with accidental deaths representing the second largest proportion (7% to 29%) and suicides the third (0% to 12%). Less than 1% of C/ME investigations were attributed to each of homicides and undetermined deaths.

Table B-10
Distribution of deaths of people aged 70 to 89 years investigated by a C/ME, by manner of death, Provinces and Territories, 2006 to 2008

With the exception of British Columbia, where accidental deaths (204) outnumbered natural deaths (150), natural deaths accounted for the majority C/ME investigations among people aged 90 years and older in all provinces (51% to 94%; Table B-11), with accidental deaths representing the second largest proportion (6% to 48%). Less than 1% of C/ME investigations were attributed to each of homicides, suicides and undetermined deaths. The two territories reported few, if any, C/ME cases for this age group.

Table B-11
Distribution of deaths of people aged 90 years and over investigated by a C/ME, by manner of death, Provinces and Territories, 2006 to 2008