[quest1029]

My friend seemingly stabbed herself in the chest hitting an artery between the heart and lung. Sadly she passed away. She was suffering from postnatel depression and was desperate for help. She was told to come to the hospital at 10.30am. Being desperate she went and was told the bed wasn't ready to go home and have a nice bath, so that's what she did. She said to her sister "will you come and see me tomorrow" after that is when it happened. If she knew she was going to get help and wanted it why would she do that to herself? I`ve been told it takes some power to stab through musle and everything else the knife would have to go through. The knife was lying in the bottom of the bath so had been pulled out again. Could she have done this herself?

[JudyKayTee]

Yes, she could have "done it" to herself.

Why? She was desperate, she wanted out of this life, she felt hopeless, she suffered from postpartum (which is what I think you mean) depression.

I don't understand why a hospital would turn away someone who was so desperate. Has anyone looked into that aspect of things?

If she had gone to an Emergency Room - at least in NY and I don't know where you are - they would have been obligated to help her.

But, yes, she could have stabbed herself, pulled the knife out, bled to death.

[DrBill100]

my friend seemingly stabbed herself in the chest hitting an artery between the heart and lung. ... She was suffering from postnatel depression and was desperate for help. she said to her sister "will you come and see me tomorrow" after that is when it happened. if she knew she was going to get help and wanted it why would she do that to herself? I`ve been told it takes some power to stab through musle and everything else the knife would have to go through. the knife was lying in the bottom of the bath so had been pulled out again. could she have done this herself?

While I agree with Judy that your friend could have stabbed herself and suicide is a danger in postpartum depression there are two components that, if I were handling the case, would cause an eyebrow to raise: First. Method. Suicide by self-stabbing is very rare and even more so with females. Second. Her statement to her sister demonstrating a plan for the near future.

As you note, the force necessary inflict a deep stab wound penetrating several inches into the thoracic cavity is substantial but not impossible. The fact that the knife had been pulled out would not be inconsistent with the method. Usually, in the rare cases of self-stabbing, there are multiple wounds (although seldom in chest). The first may have been incapacitating and in short order fatal thus preventing the next thrust.

The circumstances you related should have raised suspicion from the outset. I assume that an investigation including autopsy was conducted? There should be a report beginning on-site and following through internal examination and summary. Some or all of the answers may be contained therein. Usually, however, the report isn't released to other than immediate family and then only on request.