Carbon copy deaths: carbon monoxide gas chamber.
The news media can exert a powerful influence over suicidal behaviour. It has been observed that like-minded individuals are able to preplan a group suicide method using modern communication technology in the form of websites and online chatrooms and mobile phone texting. A case of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is presented to illustrate the recent phenomenon of cyber suicides by suffocation from a burning barbecue (charcoal burner) in 'gas chamber' conversions. Although barbecues (BBQ) are very popular in Britain and widely available, there have been relatively few reported cases of copycat deaths from CO gas suffocation.
Patel
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Greater London Forensic Medical Practice, Dennis Geffen Health Annexe, St. Pancras Gardens, Camley Street, Kings Cross, London NW1 0PP, United Kingdom. glfmp@btinternet.com
D002249:Carbon Monoxide Poisoning / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007100:Imitative Behavior; D008402:Mass Media; D013405:Suicide; D055815:Young Adult