An unusual morphine fatality.
A case is presented of a 90-year-old white female who apparently died of natural causes in a nursing home. Subsequent investigation indicated that the decedent had been administered an unauthorized bolus of morphine just prior to her death. The embalmed body was exhumed, an autopsy performed, and specimens were collected for toxicologic analysis. The liver contained 1.5 mg/kg of free morphine as measured by radioimmunoassay. The presence of morphine was confirmed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. A review of the literature as well as in-house data collected from narcotic deaths clearly suggest that the morphine measured in this case was consistent with a lethal concentration. The manner of death was homicide.
Levine
B
B
Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, State of Maryland 21201, Forensic Science Center, Baltimore, MD.
Wu
S C
SC
Dixon
A M
AM
Smialek
J E
JE
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015142:Baltimore; D062787:Drug Overdose; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry; D009020:Morphine / Q000032:analysis / Q000506:poisoning*; D009735:Nursing Homes
D009020:Morphine