Autoerotic accident associated with self-applied ketamine.

Area of Science:

• Forensic Pathology
• Toxicology
• Emergency Medicine

Background:

• Ketamine, known for dissociative anesthesia, is increasingly recognized as a drug of abuse.
• Low doses can induce psychoactive effects, including altered mood and cognition.
• Autoerotic practices carry inherent risks, particularly when combined with substance use.

Observation:

• A rare case of a fatal autoerotic accident is presented.
• The victim, an emergency medical technician, died from suffocation and self-administered intravenous ketamine intoxication.
• The case involved a combination of asphyxia and ketamine overdose.

Findings:

• Autopsy revealed findings consistent with suffocation.
• Toxicological analysis confirmed the presence of ketamine at lethal levels.
• Death scene investigation corroborated the self-administration of ketamine.

Implications:

• This case underscores the potential dangers of ketamine abuse, even in trained medical professionals.
• It highlights the critical importance of thorough death scene investigations in suspected autoerotic fatalities.
• Understanding the combined risks of asphyxia and ketamine intoxication is crucial for forensic and medical examiners.