R 272015Z FEB 28 2008
UNCLASSIFIED//
MARADMIN 147/08
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC/MR//
SUBJ/DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE SUICIDE EVENT REPORT//
POC/CHRISSY BRUCE/NF-4/UNIT:MRS-4/-/EMAIL:CHRISTINA.BRUCE@USMC.MIL
/TEL:703-432-9488//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/
1.  EFFECTIVE 1 JANUARY 2008, THE DEPARTMENT OF
DEFENSE SUICIDE EVENT REPORT (DODSER) REPLACED THE DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY SUICIDE INCIDENT REPORT (DONSIR) AS THE REQUIRED DOCUMENT FOR REPORTING SUSPECTED DEATHS BY SUICIDE IN THE MARINE CORPS. 
2.THE DODSER IS REQUIRED IN THE EVENT OF A CONFIRMED SUICIDE AND AN UNDETERMINED MANNER OF DEATH WHERE SUICIDE IS A SUSPECTED
POSSIBILITY.  THE DODSER WAS DESIGNED TO STANDARDIZE THE REVIEW
AND REPORTING PROCESS ON SUICIDAL BEHAVIOR AMONG MARINE CORPS
PERSONNEL AND ACROSS THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.  IN THE EVENT OF A
SUSPECTED SUICIDE, PLEASE CONTACT THE POC LISTED ABOVE TO OBTAIN A
COPY OF THE DODSER.
3.EFFECTIVE COMPLETION OF THE DODSER REQUIRES A COLLABORATIVE
EFFORT BY LINE, MEDICAL, AND OTHER STAFF.  THE INFORMATION WILL BE
USED TO IDENTIFY RISK FACTORS TO ASSIST COMMANDERS IN TARGETING AND IMPROVING LOCAL SUICIDE PREVENTION EFFORTS.  THE DATA COLLECTION PROCESS FOR THE DODSER IS A MEANS TO IMPROVE RISK MANAGEMENT, NOT AN INVESTIGATIVE PROCEDURE TO DETERMINE NEGLIGENCE OR ACCOUNTABILITY IN CASES OF CONFIRMED OR SUSPECTED SUICIDE.
4.  MAJOR COMMAND POLICY WILL DETERMINE THE COMMAND LEVEL AT WHICH
THE DODSER WILL BE COMPLETED.  SUPPORTING INPUT SHOULD BE SOUGHT
FROM THE CO/XO, MEDICAL OFFICER, MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDER, CHAPLAIN,
CACO, PMO, AND PERSONNEL SERVICES.  INPUT SHOULD ALSO BE SOUGHT FROM THE DECEDENT'S SUPERVISOR AND CO-WORKERS.  COORDINATION OF INPUT TO COMPLETE THE DODSER WILL BE DETERMINED BY THE COMMAND.
A.  WITHIN 3 WORKING DAYS OF TRANSMITTING THE INITIAL PERSONNEL
CASUALTY REPORT (PCR), THE COMMAND SHALL APPOINT A MARINE OFFICER
AND SUPPORTING TEAM TO COLLECT, EXAMINE, AND RECORD INFORMATION
REQUIRED BY THE DODSER. 
B.  WITHIN 15 WORKING DAYS OF THE INITIAL PCR, THE COMMAND SHALL
TRANSMIT THE COMPLETED DODSER TO HQMC VIA THE POC IDENTIFIED IN THIS MESSAGE.  ADDITIONAL INFORMATION MAY BE FORWARDED AS IT BECOMES AVAILABLE (E.G., TOXICOLOGY REPORTS).  THE TIME LIMIT IS INTENDED TO FACILITATE COLLECTION OF DATA THAT IS IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE AND THEREBY NOT BURDEN THE COMMAND WITH AN OPEN-ENDED AND EXHAUSTIVE DATA COLLECTION PROCESS.  THE QUESTIONS ON THE DODSER BECOME MORE DIFFICULT TO COMPLETE THE MORE TIME PASSES AND RECORDS BECOME UNAVAILABLE.
5.  RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY MR. TIMOTHY R. LARSEN, DIRECTOR, PERSONAL AND FAMILY READINESS DIVISION.//