Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario, Canada, records of 110 cases of suicidal suffocation using a plastic bag were reviewed to determine the demographic characteristics of this group compared with all suicides in Ontario, the scene information, autopsy findings and toxicology results. Most suffocation suicides were people over 60 years of age, with older women making up a considerable proportion of cases as compared with other methods of suicide. In 40 percent of cases, the deceased was suffering from a serious illness. Autopsy findings were usually minimal, with facial, conjunctival and visceral petechiae present in a minority of cases. One or more drugs were detected in the blood of 92.6 percent of cases where toxicologic testing was performed. One-quarter of decedents took additional measures, besides the use of drugs or alcohol, to ensure the rapidity, certainty or comfort of their death. The study emphasizes additional scene findings, such as the presence of dust masks, physical restraints and modification of the plastic bag that may be of use to investigators in determining the manner of death. Tables, figures, references