1/19. Petechiae of the baby's skin as differentiation symptom of infanticide versus SIDS.The successive killing of three siblings by their biological mother at two-year intervals is described. The children were 367 days, 75 days and 3 years old. Although sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) or interstitial pneumonia could not be ruled out as the cause of death in the two younger children, who were killed first, the third child exhibited discrete signs of violence in the mouth and throat area which were interpreted as proof of infanticide. All three children had petechiae of the skin of the face and throat, the upper thorax, the shoulders and the mucous membranes of the mouth. None of the children exhibited signs of a disease-related hemorrhagic tendency. After the mother was convicted of murdering the three-year-old boy by smothering in combination with compression of the thorax, she confessed to having killed the other two children in a similar manner. In the absence of hemostatic disease, the presence of petechiae of the skin extending over the entire drainage area of the Vena cava superior can be regarded as evidence of an increase in pressure in the thoracic cavity secondary to obstruction of the airways with simultaneous chest compression.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = mouth (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/19. Unusual suicidal smothering by means of multiple loops of adhesive gummed tape.In suicidal asphyxia smothering is very rare, especially when caused by winding strips of adhesive tape around the head to cover the nose and mouth. The authors report a very unusual case in which the deceased, a 66-year-old man, was found with two strips of tape wound around his head: the first, more superficial tape was wrapped six times and the second was wrapped nine times. Only integration of the crime scene data with those of the autopsy and the patient's psychological profile enabled identification of the event as suicide.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = mouth (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/19. Autoerotic asphyxia (a case report).The authors report the case of a young man, 18 years of age, who died as a result of autoerotic asphyxia. In the practice of forensic medicine such cases are presented as deaths from mechanic asphyxia in which, using various means and devices, the neck is constricted or the external respiratory orifices are obstructed with the purpose of achieving sexual gratification as a result of the induced hypoxia. These cases pose serious difficulties to the forensic medicine expert and the coroner because of the difficulties of distinguishing it as homicide, suicide or accident. The young man was found hanging by the neck, suspended on a leather belt attached on the door of his room. A mirror was placed in front of the door, reflecting him in full height. He was dressed in women's clothing (a skirt, a blouse, bikini) and a brassiere padded to resemble female breasts. Pornographic pictures from newspapers and magazines were spread on the floor. The young man had no known history of mental disorders, but there was evidence for bisexual tendencies and behaviour. On the basis of a comprehensive evaluation of the data it was accepted that the death was accidental and was attributed to autoerotic asphyxia. All the characteristic features for an act of autoerotic asphyxia, described in the forensic medicine literature, were found in this case. Autoerotic asphyxia is almost unknown as a distinctive psychopathological entity in this country's forensic medicine practice. The deficiency of theoretical knowledge in this field, as well as the lack of personal practical experience in most of the legal physicians and pathologists could result in erroneous interpretation of such case.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.64037887943088keywords = floor (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/19. An unusual case of death: suffocation caused by leaves of common ivy (hedera helix). Detection of hederacoside C, alpha-hederin, and hederagenin by LC-EI/MS-MS.We report one fatal case of asphyxia caused by leaves of common ivy. Macroscopic examination of the corpse during the autopsy disclosed an incredible quantity of leaves of hedera helix in the mouth and throat of the decedent. In order to rule out the possibility of poisoning by the toxic saponins contained in the plant, we have developed an efficient LC-EI/MS-MS assay of hederacoside C, alppha-hederin, and hederagenin in biological fluids and plant material. Sample cleanup involved solid-phase extraction of the toxins on C18 cartridges followed by LC analysis under reversed-phase conditions in the gradient elution mode. Solute identification was performed using full scan MS-MS spectrum of the analytes. Oleandrine was used as internal standard. Under these conditions, saponins in powdered dried leaves of hedera helix were measured at a concentration of 21.83 mg/g for hederacoside C, 0.41 mg/g for alpha-hederin and 0.02 mg/g for hederagenin. No toxin was detected in cardiac blood, femoral blood, or urine of the deceased, but hederacoside C was quantitated at 857 ng/mL in the gastric juice. These findings led us to conclude that the man committed suicide and that the death was caused by suffocation by leaves of common ivy.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = mouth (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/19. Mechanical asphyxia by three different mechanisms.We report the case of death of a 75-year-old Caucasian woman, produced by three different ways of mechanical asphyxia: smothering and strangulation by hand and traumatic asphyxia by thoracic compression. All these criminal offences were carried out by one single assailant who compressed the mouth and the nose of the victim with the left hand, squeezed her neck with the right hand and pressed her thorax with the knees.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = mouth (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/19. Three subsequent infanticides covered up as SIDS.Within a period of 9 years a young woman lost 3 daughters during infancy and each time death was attributed to the sudden infant death syndrome. The children had different fathers and died at the ages of 11 weeks, 7 weeks and 2 weeks, respectively. A fourth daughter survived and lives separated from the mother together with her father and is healthy. At autopsy the last of the three deceased infants did not reveal any pre-existing pathological organ findings, except for acute pulmonary emphysema and extensive intra-alveolar bleeding. As a consequence the strong suspicion of mechanical suffocation arose. Subsequent police investigations produced incriminating clues that the first two children had also been suffocated. On confrontation with the autopsy findings and investigation results, the woman confessed that she herself had killed the first two infants by pressing a cushion on their faces. In the case of the third death the baby had been smothered by the child's father who in agreement with the mother put a plastic film on mouth and nostrils.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = mouth (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/19. Haemorrhoids leading to post-mortem bleeding artefact.We present a case where a 54-year-old man suffering from haemorrhoids, committed suicide by hanging. Gravitational forces due to the upright position of the body facilitated post-mortem per-rectal bleeding from the ulcerated haemorrhoids. The bleeding stained his under garment and wrap around cloth. Frank blood was also seen on the floor beneath the hanging body. The blood at the crime scene was wrongly interpreted by the investigating police as that due to self-inflicted injury or possibly case of homicide followed by post-mortem suspension of the body. observation of the crime scene by forensic medicine experts and subsequent autopsy findings revealed that the bleeding was from the haemorrhoids. This case is reported for its rarity, for the awareness of the possible post-mortem haemorrhoidal bleeding artefact, to explain the circumstances of such a possibility, and to emphasize the importance of involving forensic medicine experts as a part of the crime scene investigation team.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.64037887943088keywords = floor (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/19. An unusual mechanical asphyxia in a homicide-suicide case by smothering and strangulation.A very unusual homicide of 2 children by smothering and strangulation by means of a rubber adhesive band carried out by the mother who committed suicide by the same manner is presented. Smothering is supposed to be one major cause of death in child homicide. suicide by smothering is relatively uncommon. Suicidal smothering by winding strips of adhesive tape around the head to cover the nose and mouth is an even rarer method recently described in literature. The circumstances of the crime and the macroscopic and microscopic evidence are discussed to reduce the potential for underdiagnoses or mistakes in such cases in which it may be difficult to establish whether suicide or homicide occurred.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = mouth (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/19. Distribution of ether in two postmortem cases.Diethyl ether (ether) is a volatile liquid that was used in the 1800s as an anesthetic agent; however, it is no longer used for this purpose, partly because of its odor and flammability. Two postmortem cases in which ether was detected are presented. The first case was an 18-year-old male found hanging from a basement ceiling brace in a semi-sitting position with a gas mask covering his face. A container of Prestone starting fluid and a bong were found on the floor close to the body. The second case was a 20-year-old male found unresponsive in his dormitory room with two black plastic trash bags secured over his head. Two saturated rags and a resealable bag containing a clear liquid were contained within these trash bags. An almost empty can of Tradco starting fluid was also found at the scene. ether concentrations were determined by headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in the selective ion monitoring mode. In case #1, the medical examiner ruled that the cause of death was asphyxia due to hanging; the manner of death was undetermined. In case #2, the medical examiner ruled that the cause of death was asphyxia and the manner of death was suicide.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.64037887943088keywords = floor (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/19. An unusual case of accidental smothering.A rare accidental death case is presented in which four pieces of packing tape adhered tightly over the nose and mouth. The notes for his experimental report, left in his room, suggested that the accident happened during his trial to prove his theory on respiration to improve physical exercise.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = mouth (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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