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Suicide with inert gases: addendum to Final Exit
Thomas Gilson1, Bruce O Parks, Cynthia M Porterfield
1Office of the Medical Examiner, Tucson, Arizona, USA.
The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology
|September 10, 2003
Summary
New methods for suicide using plastic bags and helium gas have emerged, causing 7 deaths. This method, detailed in right-to-die literature, poses challenges for forensic investigation.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Pathology
- Toxicology
- Public Health
Background:
- Right-to-die groups advocate for suicide methods, including asphyxiation.
- Helium gas, available in toy stores, is proposed to hasten death by displacing oxygen.
Observation:
- Seven fatalities involving plastic bag suffocation and helium use were recorded over 18 months.
- These deaths correlated with the publication of an updated right-to-die text describing this method.
Findings:
- The observed fatalities suggest a potential increase in the use of helium-assisted plastic bag suffocation.
- The method's association with specific right-to-die literature indicates information dissemination as a likely factor.
Implications:
- Forensic analysis of helium-related deaths presents challenges due to difficulties in detecting helium in biological samples.
- Death certification relies heavily on scene investigation for these cases.
- Public health awareness regarding novel suicide methods promoted by advocacy groups is crucial.