Coroner Urges Amazon and Google to Act Following Suicide of London Jeweller

Coroner demands urgent measures be taken by Amazon and Google following the suicide of Chloe Macdermott, a 43-year-old jeweller from west London, who engaged in an online suicide pact and fatally overdosed on a product bought from Amazon.

Macdermott, known for her business Kitty Clobber, passed away in her Maida Vale home on May 23, 2021, after ingesting a common food preservative obtained from the US via Amazon. She found this method to end her life after researching and interacting with others in online chatrooms.

Assistant Coroner Paul Rogers has reached out to the UK's Home, Health, and Culture Secretaries, seeking preventive actions against further tragedies. His report, also directed to Amazon and Google leaders, reveals that Macdermott's research on suicide was abetted by unregulated online platforms and forums.

Rogers calls for measures against easily accessible suicide-promoting content online, criticizing the lack of age restrictions, preventive guidance or content moderation. Furthermore, he highlights the ease of purchasing dangerous substances online without stringent customs control.

The coroner's concerns require a response from the government, Amazon, Google, and the British Transport Police, the national coordinator for suicide prevention, by mid-February 2024.