title: An unusual case of suicidal asphyxia.
abstract: A case is presented of a psychiatric in-patient who committed suicide on the first day of admission to hospital by entrapping his neck in the hydraulic device used for raising and lowering a hospital bed. Death most likely was due to mechanical asphyxia, from persistent compression of the neck. The danger of such potential self-harming devices in psychiatric wards is emphasized.
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, King Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Elfawal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001237:Asphyxia / Q000473:pathology*; D001513:Beds; D016304:Hospitals, Private; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011567:Psychiatric Department, Hospital; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D013405:Suicide