| Asphyxial suicides using plastic bags. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 8947355 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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Fifty-three suicides using plastic bags were identified in a review of cases within the jurisdiction of the King County Medical Examiner's Office, Seattle, Washington from 1984 to 1993. We found that this method was used at a greater frequency by individuals older than 50 in comparison with other methods. The most commonly identified stressor leading to the suicide in this population was failing health. The use of this method as a means of "self deliverance," as advocated by the Hemlock Society, could be inferred in only a small minority of cases where terminal illnesses were identified. This method may be preferred by those older than 50 years because of the ready availability of plastic bags and the relative nonviolence of the death. Analysis of the autopsy findings showed no specific features for this method of suicide. In particular, petechiae, which are often considered a marker of asphyxia, were present in only a small minority of cases (3%). Furthermore, the scene investigation rarely revealed specific features, other than the plastic bag in place. Thus, if the plastic bag were removed after death, the cause and manner of death would be obscure. |
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Authors:
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T L Haddix; R C Harruff; D T Reay; W D Haglund |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article |
Journal Detail:
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Title: The American journal of forensic medicine and pathology Volume: 17 ISSN: 0195-7910 ISO Abbreviation: Am J Forensic Med Pathol Publication Date: 1996 Dec |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 1997-04-08 Completed Date: 1997-04-08 Revised Date: 2011-02-02 |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 8108948 Medline TA: Am J Forensic Med Pathol Country: UNITED STATES |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 308-11 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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King County Medical Examiner's Office, Seattle, Washington, USA. |
Export Citation:
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APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Adolescent Adult Aged Aged, 80 and over Asphyxia / mortality* Coroners and Medical Examiners Female Humans Male Middle Aged Plastics* Suicide / statistics & numerical data* Washington / epidemiology |
| Chemical | |
Reg. No./Substance:
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0/Plastics |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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