title: An unusual suicide case of the combination of asphyxia.
abstract: A 52-year-old man died of a combination of suffocation by adherent tape wrapped around the head to cover the airway and ligature strangulation by an electrical cord. An autopsy could not conclusively determine whether it was a case of suicide or homicide. Further investigation, including investigations of the scene, the decedent's background, and the testimony of those close to the victim, helped determine the manner of death. Suicide because of a combination of several forms of asphyxia has rarely been reported in the past. Therefore, this is a very rare and unusual suicide case.
authors.affiliation: Department of Legal Medicine, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan. asamura@sch.md.shinshu-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Asamura
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Hirofumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fukushima
mesh_terms: D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology; D001237:Asphyxia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008722:Methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D019838:Neck Injuries / Q000473:pathology; D013405:Suicide