[DennisP]

The only way to prevent that is to not report whistleblower deaths at all. It's not like people can't privately have their own suspicions, and if I were a potential whistleblower, I'd want to know that any apparent accidents or suicides get very thoroughly investigated due to public outcry.

[krisoft]

The question was “How exactly is post-death gossip going to dissuade other whistleblowers?”

I answered that. Understanding and describing how it works doesn’t mean that the alternative of keeping silent about suspected deaths is prefered.

[DennisP]

My point is, gossip about possible murder doesn't dissuade them more than the bare fact of an apparent accident or suicide.