Asphyxial suicides using plastic bags

The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology
T L HaddixW D Haglund

Abstract

Fifty-three suicides using plastic bags were identified in a review of cases within the jurisdiction of the King County Medical Examiner's Office, Seattle, Washington from 1984 to 1993. We found that this method was used at a greater frequency by individuals older than 50 in comparison with other methods. The most commonly identified stressor leading to the suicide in this population was failing health. The use of this method as a means of "self deliverance," as advocated by the Hemlock Society, could be inferred in only a small minority of cases where terminal illnesses were identified. This method may be preferred by those older than 50 years because of the ready availability of plastic bags and the relative nonviolence of the death. Analysis of the autopsy findings showed no specific features for this method of suicide. In particular, petechiae, which are often considered a marker of asphyxia, were present in only a small minority of cases (3%). Furthermore, the scene investigation rarely revealed specific features, other than the plastic bag in place. Thus, if the plastic bag were removed after death, the cause and manner of death would be obscure.

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Citations

Dec 25, 2013·Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine·Andres Rodriguez Zorro
Oct 11, 2003·Child Abuse & Neglect·Jacquelyn M LymanLoring W Rue
Sep 1, 2004·Journal of Clinical Forensic Medicine·M A Elfawal, M H Higazi
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Sep 25, 2018·Journal of Affective Disorders·Mark SinyorDavid Gunnell

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