Philip Seymour Hoffman: Autopsy Results Inconclusive

By Jeralyn, Section Media
Posted on Wed Feb 05, 2014 at 01:52:49 PM EST
Tags: Philip Seymour Hoffman (all tags)

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The autopsy results of Philip Seymour Hoffman are inconclusive. Authorities say further tests are needed to determine the cause of death.

My translation: He had multiple substances in his system and they can't say for sure whether any specific substance or combination caused his death.

The four people arrested last night have been charged with misdemeanor or felony drug possession. While one, a musician, knew Hoffman, it's not at all clear he was the source of Hoffman's heroin. The drugs seized during the search of their apartments did not have the markings found on the bags at Hoffman's apartment. Also, the heroin found at Hoffman's house did not contain Fentanyl.

The stepdaughter of arrestee Robert Vineberg, a jazz musician, said he hadn't seen Hoffman since November.

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Philip Seymour Hoffman: Autopsy Results Inconclusive | 21 comments (21 topical)

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The possibilities, (5.00 / 2) (#1)
by themomcat on Wed Feb 05, 2014 at 02:53:17 PM EST

other than drugs, could be any number of underlying medical conditions, such as heart or liver disease or diabetes. Considering Mr. Hoffman's substance abuse history, general life style, and the fact that he was obviously overweight would contribute to his having any of these medical conditions, possibly all of them.
////

One little "souci"... (5.00 / 2) (#23)
by lentinel on Thu Feb 06, 2014 at 02:37:08 AM EST

The use of the term, "jazz musician", has been linked to heroin use for many decades.

In the 1940s and early 50s, this may have had some basis in reality, although pot was the drug far more in favor.

Since then, heroin has been far more in use by musicians in all sectors. Indeed, it has been used by artists, writers, actors, stock brokers, teachers and plumbers - among others.

I would have preferred that the person who allegedly supplied Mr. Hoffman with heroin be referred to simply either by name (if necessary) - or if a profession is to be mentioned, "musician" could suffice.

Jazz musicians have enough troubles just surviving - playing the music they love - combatting all the forces of rank commercialism and convoluted racism - without having to deal with a dated and clichéd association with hard drugs.

Does an autopsy really test for (none / 0) (#2)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Feb 05, 2014 at 05:31:44 PM EST

"substances in his system?"

My understanding is that an autopsy is mainly a physical examination of the body including the taking of various tissue and fluid samples which are then sent to various labs for testing.

iow, an autopsy is not where you would expect to find out if someone died of one drug vs another, no?

Autopsy report usually includes cause of death, if (none / 0) (#3)
by oculus on Wed Feb 05, 2014 at 05:36:29 PM EST

pathologist reaches such a conclusion.


Fair enough. The NYC coroners office (none / 0) (#5)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Feb 05, 2014 at 05:47:00 PM EST

would certainly have pathologists on-site.

So where do the Hoffman samples go now? Some lab with better pathology processes than the coroner's pathologist has access to?


The tox. screens are usually done by county or (none / 0) (#6)
by oculus on Wed Feb 05, 2014 at 06:08:31 PM EST

state crime lab.


OK, so is this statement correct? (none / 0) (#8)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Feb 05, 2014 at 06:15:28 PM EST

an autopsy is not where you would expect to find out if someone died of one drug vs another

Or, to be more specific (none / 0) (#9)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Feb 05, 2014 at 06:19:36 PM EST

a coroner's office is not where you would expect to find out if someone died of one drug vs another, no?

If the tox report identies (none / 0) (#10)
by oculus on Wed Feb 05, 2014 at 06:38:35 PM EST

substances, quantity, strength and the coroner determines cause of death based on this info this will probably go into coroner's report. Tox report stands separate from autopsy as I recall.


Well, it's now clear as mud! (none / 0) (#13)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Feb 05, 2014 at 06:48:10 PM EST

No worries, wasn't important anyway.


: Try this: (none / 0) (#14)
by oculus on Wed Feb 05, 2014 at 08:01:33 PM EST

webmd

In NYC, it's included (none / 0) (#20)
by themomcat on Wed Feb 05, 2014 at 11:09:01 PM EST

IN NYC, It is done by the OEM's labs (none / 0) (#21)
by themomcat on Wed Feb 05, 2014 at 11:10:09 PM EST

: That should be "OCME" (none / 0) (#22)
by themomcat on Wed Feb 05, 2014 at 11:11:22 PM EST

NYC does not have a "coroner's office" (none / 0) (#18)
by themomcat on Wed Feb 05, 2014 at 11:06:58 PM EST

it was abolished in 1915.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner which investigates cases of persons who die within New York City from criminal violence, by accident, by suicide, suddenly when in apparent health, when unattended by a physician, in a correctional facility or in any suspicious or unusual manner or where an application is made pursuant to law for a permit to cremate a body of a person.

autposy reports (none / 0) (#15)
by Jeralyn on Wed Feb 05, 2014 at 08:14:16 PM EST

can include references to the toxicology report. Tryavon Martin's did.


so did Whitney Houston's (none / 0) (#16)
by Jeralyn on Wed Feb 05, 2014 at 08:34:27 PM EST

Has the tox report been done yet? (none / 0) (#17)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Feb 05, 2014 at 10:08:02 PM EST

: It's pending (none / 0) (#19)
by themomcat on Wed Feb 05, 2014 at 11:08:17 PM EST

It can take up to two weeks depending on the tests requested and the backlog in the labs

Hoffman may "Act" in next Hunger Games (none / 0) (#24)
by Mr Natural on Thu Feb 06, 2014 at 12:38:50 PM EST

On Thursday, the NY Post reported that Philip Seymour Hoffman will be digitally recreated in a big Mockingjay scene that hasn't been shot yet.

: I had read that the last movie is 95% (none / 0) (#25)
by magster on Thu Feb 06, 2014 at 06:10:03 PM EST

complete/filmed. I can't recall from the book how involved his character is in the final scenes of the book.