title: Death with complete decapitation: report of four suicides by train.
abstract: Suicide by train with complete voluntary decapitation is an extremely rare event, however, well known and reported in the scientific literature. The authors analyze 4 cases of suicide with complete decapitation by main line or underground train that were subjected to medico-legal autopsies at the Milan Institute of Legal Medicine between 1995 and 2006. Personal, circumstantial, autopsy, and toxicological data were analyzed to define the type and pathologic characteristics of the injuries (vital reaction of wound edges, absence of any signs of defense); alcohol and drug consumption was considered and the victim's psychical profile was outlined.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy. riccardo.zoia@unimi.it
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zoja
authors.forename: Alessio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Battistini
authors.forename: Guendalina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gentile
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000097:blood; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000097:blood; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology; D049248:Decapitation / Q000473:pathology*; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D018460:Fractures, Comminuted / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011890:Railroads; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000473:pathology; D013405:Suicide
chemical_list: D002186:Cannabinoids; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D000431:Ethanol