Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Suicide by blunt force trauma.

Donna M Hunsaker1, Leigh B Thorne

  • 1Department of Pathology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky, USA. stinknlex@aol.com

The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology
|December 5, 2002
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

SARS-CoV-2 infection produces chronic pulmonary epithelial and immune cell dysfunction with fibrosis in mice.

Science translational medicine·2022
Same author

Prevalence and Mechanisms of Mucus Accumulation in COVID-19 Lung Disease.

American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine·2022
Same author

Protease-anti-protease compartmentalization in SARS-CoV-2 ARDS: Therapeutic implications.

EBioMedicine·2022
Same author

A model of persistent post SARS-CoV-2 induced lung disease for target identification and testing of therapeutic strategies.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2022
Same author

Rapid idiosyncratic mechanisms of clinical resistance to KRAS G12C inhibition.

The Journal of clinical investigation·2022
Same author

Correction: Molecular Subtypes in Head and Neck Cancer Exhibit Distinct Patterns of Chromosomal Gain and Loss of Canonical Cancer Genes.

PloS one·2018
Same journal

Fatal Case of Severe Meconium Aspiration Syndrome in a Neonate Following Out-of-Hospital Water Birth: A Case Report With Brief Review of Literature.

The American journal of forensic medicine and pathology·2026
Same journal

A Retrospective, Forensic, and Epidemiological Analysis of Reported Rabies-Related Deaths in Şanlıurfa Province, 2012-2023.

The American journal of forensic medicine and pathology·2026
Same journal

Fatal Sigmoidorectal Intussusception Associated With a Colonic Vascular Lesion Showing AVM-Like Features: A Rare Case.

The American journal of forensic medicine and pathology·2026
Same journal

The Relationship Between Body Mass Index and Suicide by Hanging: A Retrospective Forensic Assessment Based on Autopsies in Türkiye.

The American journal of forensic medicine and pathology·2026
Same journal

Cardiac Rupture Complicating Acute and Subacute Myocardial Infarction at Forensic Autopsy.

The American journal of forensic medicine and pathology·2026
Same journal

Heart Disease in Arrest-Related Death.

The American journal of forensic medicine and pathology·2026
See all related articles

Self-inflicted blunt force trauma is a rare cause of suicide. This case highlights how severe self-mutilation can mimic homicide, emphasizing thorough investigations in forensic pathology.

Area of Science:

  • Forensic Pathology
  • Psychiatry

Background:

  • Suicide by self-inflicted blunt force trauma is exceptionally rare.
  • Understanding the presentation of self-inflicted injuries is crucial in forensic investigations.

Observation:

  • A 48-year-old male with a history of paranoid schizophrenia and prior suicide attempt presented with extensive blunt force trauma.
  • Initial examination suggested homicide due to numerous cutaneous abrasions, contusions, and a severe closed head injury.

Findings:

  • Autopsy revealed severe blunt force trauma consistent with self-mutilation.
  • The pattern of injury mimicked a homicidal assault.

Implications:

  • This case underscores the critical importance of integrating comprehensive background information with autopsy findings.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Accurate determination of the manner of death requires careful correlation of clinical history and forensic evidence.
  • Recognizing extreme self-mutilation is vital to avoid misclassification of suicide as homicide.