[Sudden death of natural internal cause: endocarditis ulceropolyposa]

There is an increasing tendency amongst the general population towards rejection of conventional medical therapeutic measures, particularly certain types of medication such as antibiotics. Alternative modes of treatment, often undertaken independently by the patient, are favoured. Because of this, diseases that have become less frequent have acquired new significance as the cause of sudden unexpected death. This problem is illustrated with the case of a 20-year-old woman who died as a result of inadequate treatment of subacute bacterial endocarditis (endocarditis ulceropolyposa).