Choking on vomit leading to an immediate fatality is actually very difficult to achieve. Sounds a bit suspicious to me. Unlikely to be simply down to alcohol alone.
Stephen Gately Of Boyzone Dead At 33 Page 6
Quote: Tim Walker @ October 12 2009, 2:20 AM BSTChoking on vomit leading to an immediate fatality is actually very difficult to achieve. Sounds a bit suspicious to me. Unlikely to be simply down to alcohol alone.
Get you, Diagnosis Murder! I know everyone's saying he's not Amy Winehouse, but I wouldn't be surprised if he'd used recreational drugs at all. Doesn't make him a dirty junkie.
To not protect your airway (via gag and laryngeal reflexes) from vomiting, you have to be pretty comatose, that's all I'm saying. Alcohol alone rarely blunts these reflexes, even after a very heavy session. (One of the least fun parts of my job is being dragged out of bed at 4am by A&E to assess whether or not a drunk/drugged person is adequately protecting their airway.)
Other substances will naturally have to be considered. 
You can't dust for vomit.
And was it his own vomit?
Quote: Tim Walker @ October 12 2009, 2:25 AM BST(One of the least fun parts of my job is being dragged out of bed at 4am by A&E to assess whether or not a drunk/drugged person is adequately protecting their airway.)
Sorry about that. 
Quote: Dolly Dagger @ October 12 2009, 2:30 AM BSTSorry about that.
Sorry, did I sound uppity? Wasn't meant to. 
Quote: Tim Walker @ October 12 2009, 2:33 AM BST
Sorry, did I sound uppity?
Not at all 
Nah, I used to have a list of things I wanted to achieve when I was about 14 and having my stomach pumped was one of them. How sad is that? I never did either.
Quote: Dolly Dagger @ October 12 2009, 2:39 AM BSTNot at all
Nah, I used to have a list of things I wanted to achieve when I was about 14 and having my stomach pumped was one of them. How sad is that? I never did either.
There's still time.
Quote: Badge @ October 12 2009, 2:43 AM BSTThere's still time.
Er... I would hope not.
Stomach pumping, as such, isn't practised anymore. Only forced emesis via Ipecac, which is a syrup swallowed by the patient to induce vomiting. (Using a stomach pump led to aspiration into the lungs and pneumonias.) 
Quote: Tim Walker @ October 12 2009, 2:55 AM BSTStomach pumping, as such, isn't practised anymore. Only forced emesis via Ipecac, which is a syrup swallowed by the patient to induce vomiting. (Using a stomach pump led to aspiration into the lungs and pneumonias.)
Is it a tasty syrup? (puts it back on to-do list)
(I really shouldn't be joking about this)
Quote: Dolly Dagger @ October 12 2009, 2:58 AM BSTIs it a tasty syrup? (puts it back on to-do list)
Going down or coming up?
Quote: Dolly Dagger @ October 12 2009, 2:58 AM BSTIs it a tasty syrup?
No, it is not. I learned that the hard way as a child.
Quote: Tim Walker @ October 12 2009, 3:01 AM BSTGoing down or coming up?
both. Apparently marmalade tastes the same.
Quote: DaButt @ October 12 2009, 3:02 AM BSTNo, it is not. I learned that the hard way as a child.
Oh dear. I drunk turps as a toddler. My dad had put it in a lemonade bottle. 