title: Suicidal hanging on high-voltage line pylon.
abstract: Hanging is one of the most frequent methods for suicides among young males. This report presents two cases of suicide by hanging on pylons carrying high-voltage power lines. The male victims suffered electrocution while committing suicide. Electrocution was the cause of death in both cases, however in one case blunt force injuries from hanging contributed to death. In these two cases hanging was the intentional method of suicide and it was followed by electrocution. The cases demonstrate that scene investigation, a detailed autopsy with histology, and amamnestic data are essential in the evaluation of suicides by hanging and that the determination of the cause of death remains a challenge in investigating such cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary. torok@igaz.sote.hu
authors.forename: Klára
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Töro
authors.forename: István
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kristóf
authors.forename: Magdolna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kardos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001237:Asphyxia / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D004556:Electric Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019838:Neck Injuries / Q000473:pathology*; D011693:Purpura / Q000473:pathology; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology; D013405:Suicide; D055815:Young Adult