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Psychic trauma as cause of death
C Terranova1, R Snenghi, G Thiene
1Section of Legal Medicine, Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Italy.
Medicine, Science, and the Law
|October 25, 2011
Summary
Psychic trauma, an overwhelming emotional event, can cause death. This study examines three cases to define its role as a penal cause of death and establish legal responsibility.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Pathology
- Psychological Trauma
- Legal Medicine
Background:
- Psychic trauma is defined as an 'emotionally overwhelming factor' causing neurovegetative alterations.
- The medico-legal definition of psychic trauma as a cause in penal cases is debated.
- This study investigates the causal link between psychic trauma and death within a penal context.
Observation:
- Three cases of death following psychic trauma were analyzed.
- Methodology included examining evidence, clinical records, autopsy findings, and cause of death.
- The relationship between psychic trauma and the cause of death was critically assessed.
Findings:
- Psychic trauma was determined to be the cause of death in the presented cases.
- Causal attribution was based on the nature of the emotional insult, individual characteristics, and event circumstances.
- The study supports psychic trauma as a direct cause of death.
Implications:
- Rigorous methodological ascertainment is crucial for deaths involving psychic trauma.
- This aids in defining 'emotionally overwhelming factors' as significant penal causes of death.
- It facilitates identifying third-party responsibility in homicide dynamics.
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