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Plastic bag suffocation
A L Perez Martinez1, P Chui, J M Cameron
1Department of Forensic Medicine, London Hospital Medical College.
Medicine, Science, and the Law
|January 1, 1993
Summary
Plastic bag suffocation is a rare but significant cause of death. Finding a plastic bag on a deceased individual can be crucial for determining the cause of death, especially when initial autopsies are inconclusive.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Pathology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Suffocation by plastic bag is an uncommon but diagnostically significant finding.
- The presence of a plastic bag at the scene can aid pathologists in determining the cause of death, particularly when initial autopsies are inconclusive.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate cases where bodies were discovered with plastic bags over the head.
- To specifically analyze cases where plastic bag suffocation was the cause of death.
Main Methods:
- Review of case studies involving plastic bags found on deceased individuals.
- Analysis of autopsy findings and pathologist's reports.
Main Results:
- In some reported cases, pathologists were unable to determine the cause of death without the presence of the plastic bag.
- Plastic bags can be involved in accidental, intentional (suicidal/homicidal), or substance-inhalation related deaths.
Conclusions:
- The presence of a plastic bag over the head is a critical indicator for pathologists.
- Plastic bag suffocation, while not common, requires careful consideration in forensic investigations.