tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20629163.post4811032089900334865..comments2023-05-24T03:14:39.889-05:00Comments on "Live from the Coroner's Office": Response to a query, hoping to help with informationDr. Richard Kellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11307076697112567697noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20629163.post-52512472900430295942017-02-06T12:24:23.626-06:002017-02-06T12:24:23.626-06:00My condolences
Your brother had been drinking and...My condolences<br /><br />Your brother had been drinking and using cocaine before his death. His blood alcohol demonstrates he drank, but likely not impaired by it at the time of his death. The fact that he still had cocaine in his blood, speaks to a significant consumption a short time before his death. (Cocaine continues to be metabolized even after death) It is, however, impossible to know how much cocaine he consumed (levels are not very predictive)<br /><br />It is certainly possible that he was impaired by the cocaine, limiting his awareness at the time of his death.<br /><br />Not knowing where the gunshots were located in his body, I can't say with certainty, but lethal gunshots tend not to cause much suffering before they cause death.<br />Dr. Richard Kellerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11307076697112567697noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20629163.post-38259543598944855392017-02-03T19:12:59.057-06:002017-02-03T19:12:59.057-06:00Dear Coroner,
So grateful to have found this blog ...Dear Coroner,<br />So grateful to have found this blog but not sure if you are answering 2017 questions. Anyway, here goes:<br />My brother died from gunshot injuries in 2005. The autopsy was performed the same day. I am wondering how painful his death was from the gunshot. I am hoping that he was numbed from being under the influence. Although I understand what he was tested for, the numbered levels mean little to me. Can you elaborate for me please?<br />Blood ethanol 0.03%<br />Blood cocaine 0.2 mg/L<br />Blood cocaethylene 0.12 mg/L<br />Blood benzoylecgonine 0.70 mg/L<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com