Y20 ICD-10-CA code: Hanging, strangulation and suffocation, undetermined intent

Y20 is the ICD-10-CA code for “Hanging, strangulation and suffocation, undetermined intent” in CIHI’s FY 2026–2027 release, in effect from Apr 1, 2026.

Official description

Y20

Hanging, strangulation and suffocation, undetermined intent

Short description: Hanging strangltn suffn undet intent

ICD-10-CA · Canada

Index terms

Entries in CIHI’s alphabetical index that lead to Y20. Searching the index by the condition the note names is how coders reach this code.

Hanged herself or himself
Hanging (accidental), self inflicted (unspecified whether accidental or intentional)
Suffocation (accidental) (by external means) (by pressure) (mechanical), self inflicted
Hanging (accidental), stated as undetermined whether accidentally or purposely inflicted
Strangulation (accidental), self inflicted (unspecified whether accidental or intentional)
Strangulation (accidental), stated as undetermined whether accidentally or purposely inflicted
Hanging (accidental), caused by other person, stated as, undetermined whether accidental or intentional
Injury, injured (accidental(ly)) NEC, stated as, undetermined whether accidentally or purposely inflicted (by), hanging
Injury, injured (accidental(ly)) NEC, stated as, undetermined whether accidentally or purposely inflicted (by), suffocation
Injury, injured (accidental(ly)) NEC, stated as, undetermined whether accidentally or purposely inflicted (by), strangulation
Strangulation (accidental), by, due to, in, other person NEC, stated as undetermined whether accidentally or purposely inflicted
Suffocation (accidental) (by external means) (by pressure) (mechanical), stated as undetermined whether accidentally or purposely inflicted
Suffocation (accidental) (by external means) (by pressure) (mechanical), caused by other person, stated as, undetermined whether accidentally or purposely inflicted
Suffocation (accidental) (by external means) (by pressure) (mechanical), in, plastic bag (in accidental circumstances), self inflicted (unspecified whether accidental or intentional)
Suffocation (accidental) (by external means) (by pressure) (mechanical), in, plastic bag (in accidental circumstances), stated as undetermined whether accidentally or purposely inflicted

Notes for Y20

As CIHI prints them, with any note Y20 takes from the headings above it.

Use additional code

Add a code for this detail when the note documents it.

Use additional code from category U98.- to identify place of occurrence.From Y10-Y34 Event of undetermined intent

Note

This section covers events where available information is insufficient to enable a medical or legal authority to make a distinction between accident, self-harm and assault. It includes self-inflicted injuries, but not poisoning, when not specified whether accidental or with intent to harm(X40-X49)Follow legal rulings when available.From Y10-Y34 Event of undetermined intent
This chapter, which in previous revisions of ICD constituted a supplementary classification, permits the classification of environmental events and circumstances as the cause of injury, poisoning and other adverse effects. Where a code from this section is applicable, it is intended that it shall be used in addition to a code from another chapter of the Classification indicating the nature of the condition. Most often, the condition will be classifiable to Chapter XIX, Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T98). Causes of death should preferably be tabulated according to both Chapter XIX and Chapter XX, but if only one code is tabulated then the code from Chapter XX should be used in preference. Other conditions that may be stated to be due to external causes are classified in Chapters I to XVIII. For these conditions, codes from Chapter XX should be used to provide additional information for multiple-condition analysis only.From Chapter 20: External causes of morbidity and mortality (V01-Y98)

Where Y20 sits

1ChapterChapter 20: External causes of morbidity and mortality (V01-Y98)
2Block Y10-Y34Event of undetermined intent
3Valid code Y20Hanging, strangulation and suffocation, undetermined intent

Source and release

Data release: ICD-10-CA · FY 2026–2027
Effective date: Apr 1, 2026
Publisher: CIHI

This page is built from the ICD-10-CA catalog that Vero Codes reads when it suggests codes: Canadian Institute for Health Information’s FY 2026–2027 release, imported from the publisher’s file and checked against it. The description, notes and structured data come from the same record.

See Y20 in the CIHI source

Frequently asked questions

What does ICD-10-CA code Y20 mean?

Y20 is the ICD-10-CA code for “Hanging, strangulation and suffocation, undetermined intent” in CIHI’s ICD-10-CA FY 2026–2027 release.

Where is Y20 in ICD-10-CA?

Y20 sits under Y10-Y34 Event of undetermined intent, within Chapter 20: External causes of morbidity and mortality (V01-Y98).

What coding notes apply to Y20?

ICD-10-CA lists Note, Use additional code notes for Y20, including those from the headings it sits under. They are listed on this page with where each one comes from.

Which ICD-10-CA release does this page use?

It uses CIHI’s FY 2026–2027 release, in effect from Apr 1, 2026 to Mar 31, 2027. It is a reference: confirm the code against the current list and the payer’s rules before you submit it.

View Y10-Y34