Analyses of suicidal deaths with shotguns in Istanbul, 1998-2007.
BACKGROUND
In previous studies, some features of suicidal firearm deaths have been described, but series of suicidal deaths using shotgun are limited in the literature. The aim of the present study was to define several characteristics of suicidal shotgun deaths.


METHODS
In this study, we reviewed retrospectively 36,971 autopsy reports recorded by the Mortuary Section of the Forensic Medicine Council of Istanbul between January 1, 1998 and December 31, 2007.


RESULTS
Seventy-three shotgun-related suicide cases were evaluated. Of the 73 cases, 46 (63%) were male and 27 (37%) were female. Most of the cases (n=36, 53.4%) were aged 16-20 years (p<0.001). Sixty-two of the suicides (84.9%) occurred in victims' homes (p<0.001). A suicide note was recovered in 7 cases (9.6%). While entry wounds were on the head in the majority of the cases (n=29, 39.8%) (p<0.001), in nearly half of the female victims (n=12; 44.4%), entry wound was in the abdominal region. Fifty-six shots (76.7%) were determined to be from loose-contact range (p<0.001). Ethyl alcohol was detected in 17.8% (n=13) of blood samples of the cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Handling and usage of shotguns should be under strict control, educational efforts should be directed to early and late adolescents and their parents and psychological support centers should also be founded in an effort to prevent suicidal deaths with shotguns.
Aşirdizer
Mahmut
M
Department of Forensic Medicine, Celal Bayar University, Faculty of Medicine, Manisa, Turkey. masirdizer@yahoo.com
Cantürk
Gürol
G
Cantürk
Nergis
N
Yavuz
Mehmet Sunay
MS
Sari
Hüseyin
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005389:Firearms; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control; D055815:Young Adult; D000092864:Suicide Prevention