A British woman killed herself with a poison she bought on Amazon after using an online chat site to make a suicide pact with other members, an investigation has found.
Chloe Macdermott, 43, took her own life using an unnamed “product” she ordered in the US in 2021 after joining an online forum that “encouraged” suicide.
On the night of her death, she had agreed to carry out the crime with other members – including a Brit.
Chloe, who was married, had been “struggling with her mental health for a number of years” and had used the internet to look for ways to end her life as she became “increasingly suicidal”, the inquest heard.
Following her death, Paul Rogers, deputy coroner for Inner West London, wrote to US tech giants Google and Amazon to raise the alarm about access to such websites and the ease with which deadly substances can be purchased.
Chloe Macdermott, 43, took her own life using an unnamed “product” she ordered from the US in 2021
On the night of her death, she had agreed to carry out the act with other members of an online forum that “encouraged” suicide
Chloe (right), who was married, had been “struggling with her mental health for a number of years” and had been searching online for ways to end her life
In a report on preventing future deaths, Mr Rogers stressed that the unnamed website used by Ms Macdermott had no age or other restrictions to prevent access by children, vulnerable young people and vulnerable adults.
He also pointed out that there are no “distinctive signposts” offering help and that there is a lack of “effective management” that removes harmful content on the site.
Mr Rogers also questioned how Ms Macdermott was able to purchase a product – the nature of which is redacted in his report – on Amazon and later ingest it, causing her to die.
He expressed concerns about the “availability” of such products on the Internet and how they could be purchased in the United States for individual use – without “effective border and/or customs controls.”
The inquest in May heard that Ms Macdermott had been “struggling with her mental health for a number of years prior to her death”.
She became “increasingly suicidal” and used the internet to look for ways to end her life.
“On or about May 21, 2021, she formed an association with two other individuals with whom she intended to end her life,” Rogers said. “She had bought [REDACTED]with Amazon US.
“On May 22, 2021, while her husband was away from home, she contacted the people she had discussed suicide with and it was agreed to act that night.”
The inquest in May heard Ms Macdermott (left) had “struggled with her mental health for a number of years before her death”.
She became “increasingly suicidal” and used the internet to look for ways to end her life
“Chloe and another person in another part of the UK took it.” [REDACTED]around midnight between May 22nd and 23rd, 2021.
“Chloe died in the early hours of May 23, 2021 as a result of complications from [REDACTED] Toxicity on her bed in her house.'
The coroner concluded that Ms Macdermott died by suicide.
As well as writing to the vice presidents of Google and Amazon, he has also sent his report to Home Secretary James Cleverley, Health Minister Victoria Atkins, Culture Minister Lucy Fraser and the police.
You have until February to respond to his concerns.
Mr. Rogers said: “[Online forums] encourage suicide, assist suicide by providing information about suicide methods, advise suicide by providing information about suicide, and thereby potentially facilitate the commission of a crime in the United Kingdom.”
Speaking about the chat room – which he did not identify – he said: “[REDACTED]is a forum that enables the exchange and viewing of material in its open chat rooms, promoting, supporting, advising and mediating suicide through the provision and exchange of information and methods.
“There are no age or other restrictions preventing access to children, vulnerable teenagers and vulnerable adults.” There is no prominent signage identifying organizations offering suicide prevention help.
Chloe (pictured) took the unnamed substance around midnight on May 22 and 23
She died on her bed in her home in the early hours of May 23 while her husband was away
“Posts are made by users containing details of suicide methods without any effective management to remove such harmful content.”
On the substance Ms Macdermott used to commit suicide, he said he was concerned about its availability “via the internet and its supply to individual users in the UK for non-commercial or agricultural purposes”.
He also raised concerns about purchasing options for British users [REDACTED]via Amazon in the United States and to accept delivery in the United Kingdom without effective border and/or customs controls.”
He added: “Chloe was able to purchase the used product over the internet and have it delivered to her home in the UK. “Inquiries revealed the product was purchased via Amazon in the US.”
“In my opinion, measures should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe your organization has the power to take such measures.”