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["Self-asphyxia"--a forensic medicine-criminal challenge]
W Rabl1, C Markwalder, T Sigrist
1Institut für Gerichtliche Medizin, Kantonsspitals St Gallen.
Archiv Fur Kriminologie
|January 1, 1992
Summary
Suicidal strangulation by ligature is possible, despite common misconceptions in legal and medical fields. Reviewing over 200 published cases and reporting 4 new ones, this study highlights challenges in forensic investigations.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Pathology
- Medical Law
Context:
- Misconceptions persist among legal, police, and medical professionals regarding the possibility of suicidal strangulation.
- Ligature strangulation is often incorrectly presumed to be exclusively homicidal.
Purpose:
- To challenge the misconception that suicidal strangulation is impossible.
- To present additional cases of suicidal strangulation.
- To discuss challenges faced by criminalists and medical examiners in diagnosing such cases.
Summary:
- The study reviews over 200 previously published cases of suicidal strangulation.
- Four new cases of suicidal strangulation are reported.
- Key challenges in the forensic investigation of these cases are discussed, emphasizing the importance of the initial examination of the body in situ.
Impact:
- Aims to improve the accuracy of death investigations involving strangulation.
- Highlights the critical role of forensic science in correctly identifying the circumstances of death.
- Contributes to the body of literature on suicidal ligature strangulation, aiding legal and medical professionals in their assessments.