Death by hanging in Western Australia.
We present a review of the circumstances and medical findings of 280 fatalities due to hanging in Western Australia (WA) during the 5 yr period 1988-1992. Two hundred and forty one (241) of the cases were examined prospectively; the completed Coroner's files of a further 39 cases, from rural WA, were examined retrospectively. Most of the 280 deaths were in males (88%), and most were in the age range of 15-35 yrs (56%). Seven cases occurred in children aged 15 or less. There was one homicide, 14 cases thought to be accidental, and 261 suicides; in 4 cases the manner of death could not be determined. In one-third of the cases there was a medical history of a psychiatric condition. The majority occurred in or around the decedent's home (71%). The most commonly used ligature was a rope (59%). Alcohol was the most commonly detected drug following post mortem analysis (30%). In WA then, there is one hanging death every 6.5 days, the majority being suicides, in men of young adult age, typically occurring in or around the home.
Cooke
C T
CT
Department of Forensic Medicine, Western Australian Centre for Pathology and Medical Research (Path Centre), Perth.
Cadden
G A
GA
Margolius
K A
KA
D000061:Accidents, Home; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001237:Asphyxia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002423:Cause of Death; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D005260:Female; D006708:Homicide; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D044469:Racial Groups; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D013405:Suicide