Although I am not a physician, I frequently read my husband's copy of CMAJ. I have generally found the journal to be informative and interesting. However, I was appalled at the recent death notice for Suzanne Killinger-Johnson.1 There was absolutely no need to indicate the nature of her death or to mention that her child's life was also taken. Suicide for whatever reason is tragic, and it is obvious that Killinger-Johnson was suffering from some form of mental anguish. To indicate that she died “apparently as a result of postpartum depression”1 trivializes her illness. Why could the writer not simply have said that she died under tragic circumstances, instead of casting a dark cloud over her name once again? I hope that Killinger-Johnson's spouse does not receive a copy of this magazine; I think he would be appalled at the lack of compassion and empathy shown toward his family. I hope that in the future more thought is put into writing about the loss of medical colleagues.
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