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No Toxicology Tests for Hunter

By Jeralyn, Section Off Topic
Posted on Wed Feb 23, 2005 at 05:43:51 AM EST
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This is great, but it might be one of those "only in Aspen" things:

The Pitkin County coroner confirmed yesterday that author and counterculture icon Hunter S. Thompson died from an intentional, self-inflicted gunshot wound. Coroner Steven Ayers said Thompson died instantly. The sheriff's office told The Associated Press the weapon was a .45-caliber handgun.

Ayers has not ordered a toxicology report to reveal whether there were drugs or alcohol in Thompson's body at the time of death. "I'm not ordering a toxicology report in this case because it was incidental to the cause of death. It doesn't matter if there were drugs in his system; it had nothing to do with the manner of his death," Ayers said.

Translation: It was nobody's business but his own.

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    No Toxicology Tests for Hunter | 21 comments (21 topical)
    Re: No Toxicology Tests for Hunter (none / 0) (#1)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Feb 23, 2005 at 03:38:54 AM EST
    When were there NOT drugs or alcohol in Thompson's system? It's like the joke about Courtney Love's blood test. They actually found blood.

    Re: No Toxicology Tests for Hunter (none / 0) (#3)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Feb 23, 2005 at 06:53:01 AM EST
    Shove your advice up your a*s, Dagma.

    Re: No Toxicology Tests for Hunter (none / 0) (#2)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Feb 23, 2005 at 06:53:53 AM EST
    You people on the left really need to reconsider who you hold as heros, if for no other reason, it exposes who you are so clearly to the masses who are down the middle or right of it. [Ed. this commenter is limited to four posts a day.]

    Re: No Toxicology Tests for Hunter (none / 0) (#4)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Feb 23, 2005 at 06:54:44 AM EST
    Yeah Dagma. At least your guys have the decency to lie about it so our kids will learn how much more morally defensible lying is to smoking pot.

    Re: No Toxicology Tests for Hunter (none / 0) (#5)
    by Quaker in a Basement on Wed Feb 23, 2005 at 07:45:37 AM EST
    You people on the left really need to reconsider who you hold as heros OK. Thompson: writer, social critic, keen observer, advocate for justice, caustic wit, bigger-than-life opponent of pretense and greed. And yes, crazy drunk/druggie. I've reconsidered. You?

    Re: No Toxicology Tests for Hunter (none / 0) (#6)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Feb 23, 2005 at 08:39:24 AM EST
    You people on the left really need to reconsider who you hold as heros...
    nitwit:
    "a hero ain't nothing but a sandwich"
    Re: No Toxicology Tests for Hunter (none / 0) (#7)
    by ras on Wed Feb 23, 2005 at 09:09:51 AM EST
    To whatever extent drug use (incl C2H6O) contributed, it should be determined as it would be in any other case; i.e. if it were a non-famous person who died in the same circumstances, would the tests have been run? This includes an estimation of not just the contribution of immediate use beforehand, but chronic use as well, if either might be a potential contributing factor in the suicide. If there were other factors on top of those two - some have speculated on illness - I can see keeping such details private. But the forensics should be the same for all.

    Re: No Toxicology Tests for Hunter (none / 0) (#8)
    by pigwiggle on Wed Feb 23, 2005 at 09:16:16 AM EST
    TL- I understand Hunter is iconic but perhaps you can squeeze in some commentary on the development of Kelo v. City of New London between HST posts. Pretty please.

    Re: No Toxicology Tests for Hunter (none / 0) (#9)
    by Che's Lounge on Wed Feb 23, 2005 at 09:28:51 AM EST
    Who are the right wing heroes? I need a laugh too!

    Re: No Toxicology Tests for Hunter (none / 0) (#10)
    by kdog on Wed Feb 23, 2005 at 09:31:17 AM EST
    It should always be up to the surviving family what tests (if any) should be done on the deceased. Just another instance of gov't intrusion into our private lives. The cause of death is not in doubt, why does big brother need to know what was in his blood?

    Re: No Toxicology Tests for Hunter (none / 0) (#11)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Feb 23, 2005 at 11:54:04 AM EST
    So your saying, KDOG, that if the authorities suspect the husband of killing his wife he should still reserve the right to refuse an autopsy. Brilliant.

    Re: No Toxicology Tests for Hunter (none / 0) (#12)
    by nolo on Wed Feb 23, 2005 at 12:49:17 PM EST
    If the cause of death's pretty obvious, then I don't see why the good people of Aspen should have to pay for irrelevant toxicology reports. Apparently the Aspen medical examiner agrees.

    Re: No Toxicology Tests for Hunter (none / 0) (#13)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Feb 23, 2005 at 12:54:47 PM EST
    Irrelevant toxicology indeed; anyone with half a brain knows the guy was as high as a kite

    Re: No Toxicology Tests for Hunter (none / 0) (#14)
    by Quaker in a Basement on Wed Feb 23, 2005 at 01:08:55 PM EST
    Dagma, your hypothetical scenario would be a criminal investigation. Of course a suspect in a crime wouldn't have the right to restrict investigation of relevant evidence. In Thompson's death, however, no crime was committed. Where there is no crime, there is no compelling state interest in the circumstances of the death.

    Re: No Toxicology Tests for Hunter (none / 0) (#15)
    by jondee on Wed Feb 23, 2005 at 01:21:13 PM EST
    Dagma - Your lame ass,thuggish talk-radio sentiments and general lack of a sense of common decency in responce to what is to so many a sad passing,is all the testament any thinking,feeling person would need to the truth of the phrase "Generation of Swine."

    Re: No Toxicology Tests for Hunter (none / 0) (#16)
    by kdog on Wed Feb 23, 2005 at 01:46:32 PM EST
    Thanks CA, you worded my thoughts better than me.

    Re: No Toxicology Tests for Hunter (none / 0) (#17)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Feb 23, 2005 at 02:58:25 PM EST
    kdog, HST's previous drug-rich history notwithstanding, there are many drugs that can increase the odds of a suicide. That's why I think a test is a good idea: e.g. did HST get "bad" drugs on the street, for ex, requiring police action before another (preventable) suicide happens? At the moment, no one knows.

    Re: No Toxicology Tests for Hunter (none / 0) (#18)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Feb 23, 2005 at 03:43:39 PM EST
    Anonymous: February 23, 2005 03:58 PM
    there are many drugs that can increase the odds of a suicide
    Indeed there are - mostly legal ones (Seroxat, Paxil, and other SSRIs) that are currently prescribed by the bucketload and generating BILLIONS for the pharma companies. Where's the War on Drugs when you need it? However I expect that Hunter was smart enough to understand that the best medication is usually self-medication... ;-)

    Re: No Toxicology Tests for Hunter (none / 0) (#19)
    by Repack Rider on Wed Feb 23, 2005 at 04:41:12 PM EST
    In any contest for the taking of the most drugs by a social commentator, Rush Limbaugh would win handily.

    Re: No Toxicology Tests for Hunter (none / 0) (#20)
    by kdog on Thu Feb 24, 2005 at 07:38:56 AM EST
    Thanks s/b to Quaker...sorry. The only "bad drugs" I know of that may cause suicidal tendencies are prescription anti-depressants, as mentioned by Ian. Besides, Hunter had more knowledge of drugs than most pharmacists, I trust his 40 yrs. of experience.

    Re: No Toxicology Tests for Hunter (none / 0) (#21)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Feb 24, 2005 at 08:52:24 PM EST
    Quite a spectacle, isn't it Dagma...watching them all shucking and jiving to their pathetic pied piper? (btw, Welcome to the select 4-a-day club. Many are called but few are chosen.) Everyone knows alcohol is the ultimate suicide drug.

    No Toxicology Tests for Hunter | 21 comments (21 topical)