Talk:Rene Rivkin

218.214.136.5 08:58, 16 October 2005 (UTC) - Can we find out a canonical cause of death rather than say that he 'presumably' overdosed? The Coroner would have investigated.

Also, this article mentions a 'malignant' brain tumour. If I recall correctly, it was a meningioma (not malignant).

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"A subsequent police investigation concluded that the fire was caused by a staff barbecue held that afternoon." - I'm curious to where that information was obtained from. According to the coroner who investigated the fire the cause was inconclusive, sighting insufficient evidence. I could find no mention of any barbecue. To say that police "concluded" when the coroner said it was "inconclusive" is very misleading.

Illness

I recognise this is a touchy subject, but there are unexplained issues. It is now stated that Rivkin suffered from "bipolar disorder", but the independent examiner told the court it was only "mild hypomania" possibly caused by antidepressants (and other substances). Notably Rivkin hadn't been seeing a psychiatrist until his legal troubles. His brain tumour was called benign at the time but is now considered a contributing factor to his erratic behaviour. Furthermore in the media coverage there is no recognition that depressive and manic features are in fact opposite. While there might have been some scepticism at the time, his suicide seems to have buried them. However, there is no reason to see his suicide as anything but a reaction to ongoing criminal proceedings, financial ruin, social disgrace, and family breakdown. For this reason I have changed the article to be more circumspect about posthumous diagnosis.--Jack Upland 04:16, 7 January 2006 (UTC)

Criminal label

I find it deeply offensive that the late Rene Rivkin could have his life reduced to a label as a criminal. He was convicted of a pretty minor count of insider trading over a $346 profit. There are many people who could be tagged this way who are not. This is very unfortunate. Adriantame 11:40, 12 January 2006 (UTC)