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Medical suicide -- groin stabbing

P A S Edirisinghe1, A Busuttil

  • 1Section of Forensic Medicine, Department of Pathology, The University of Edinburgh, Medical School, Teviot Place, Edinburgh EH 8 9AG, United Kingdom.

Journal of Clinical Forensic Medicine
|November 9, 2005
PubMed

Insights

A physician died from self-inflicted stab wounds to the groin, targeting femoral arteries. This rare suicidal method highlights how medical knowledge may influence the choice of injury site.

Area of Science:

  • Forensic Pathology
  • Medical Case Reports

Background:

  • A 50-year-old male, a medical doctor with a history of depression post-cancer treatment, died from self-inflicted injuries.
  • The case involves exsanguination resulting from both stab wounds to the groin and cutting injuries to the neck.

Observation:

  • Postmortem examination identified stab wounds precisely located over the femoral arteries in the groin.
  • The femoral arteries are anatomically significant as the site for clinical palpation of the femoral pulse.

Findings:

  • The pattern of suicidal stabbing observed in this case is highly uncommon.
  • The deceased's medical knowledge is hypothesized to have influenced the selection of the groin, specifically the femoral arteries, as the injury site.

Implications:

  • This case underscores the potential for individuals with medical expertise to utilize their knowledge in self-harm, choosing anatomically vulnerable sites.
  • It highlights the importance of considering a patient's professional background when assessing suicide risk, particularly in those with mental health conditions.
  • The findings contribute to the understanding of unusual suicide methods and the psychological impact of cancer treatment and depression.

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