Unusual self-electrocution simulating judicial electrocution by an adolescent.
Electrocution is one of the rarest modes of suicide. In this case, one school going adolescent committed suicide by electrocution using bare electric wire. This is a rare case of suicidal death by applying live wires around the wrists, simulating the act of judicial electrocution. He positioned himself on armed chair and placed the nude wire loops from a cable around both wrists and switched on the current by plugging in to nearest socket by foot. There were linear electric contact wounds completely encircling around the both wrists. In addition to these linear electric burns all around wrists, there were electrical burns over both hands. This death highlights the need of supervision and close watch on children for self-destructing activities and behavior. This case also highlights unusual method adopted by adolescent to end his life.
Forensic Pathology Unit, Department of Pathology, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. dropmurty@yahoo.co.in
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D000293:Adolescent; D002203:Capital Punishment; D004556:Electric Injuries / Q000473:pathology*; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013405:Suicide; D014954:Wrist Injuries / Q000473:pathology