WE have previously reviewed the minimal prevalence of unexpected death from pulmonary embolism in supposedly healthy persons during the years 1951 to 1962, a period preceding the introduction of oral contraceptives. † Using the experience of the Cuyahoga County (Cleveland, Ohio) Coroner's Office, we found that such deaths were not as rare as had been thought. To determine the effect of the introduction of oral contraceptive agents on the occurrence of this variety of sudden death, we have reviewed the sudden and unexpected deaths from pulmonary embolism in the same medicolegal jurisdiction during the years from 1963 through 1969.MethodsCases . . .