The application of pancuronium bromide (Pavulon) forensic analyses to tissue samples from an "Angel of Death" investigation.
The case report of a serial killer who worked at several hospitals as a respiratory therapist is presented. The suspect was initially labeled a benevolent Angel of Death who ended the suffering of elderly patients through mercy killing. However, his subsequently declared motive for homicide was very different from other similar cases in medical settings. The application of new analysis techniques for the detection of pancuronium bromide in a series of aged exhumation tissues gave positive results and led to the resultant conviction of the therapist.
Andresen
Brian D
BD
Forensic Science Center, Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550, USA.
Alcaraz
Armando
A
Grant
Patrick M
PM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001344:Autopsy; D005065:Euthanasia; D049249:Exhumation; D005260:Female; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000379:methods; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006708:Homicide; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D003473:Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000506:poisoning; D010197:Pancuronium / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000506:poisoning; D010564:Personnel, Hospital; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D012138:Respiratory Therapy
D003473:Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents; D010197:Pancuronium