Planned complex suicide: Self-strangulation and plaster ingestion.
The literature contains many case reports of planned and complex suicides, which combine various methods to commit suicide. In this article, we present the anomalous suicide of an adult male by strangulation with a belt and simultaneous ingestion of plaster. The specific circumstances of the case are described and relevant literature is briefly reviewed. This case vignette illustrates one example of the wide ranging methods employed in suicides and may represent the first reported case of a fatal complex suicide involving self-strangulation and plaster ingestion. Knowledge of varied and sometimes unusual suicide methods is important to the forensic investigator to prevent unnecessary criminal investigation and to reliably and confidently establish manner and cause of death.
Germerott
Tanja
T
Institute of Legal Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany. tanja.germerott@irm.unibe.ch
Jaenisch
Stefanie
S
Hatch
Gary
G
Albrecht
Urs-Vito
UV
Guenther
Detlef
D
D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology*; D001237:Asphyxia / Q000209:etiology*; D002133:Calcium Sulfate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003252:Construction Materials / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004947:Esophagus / Q000473:pathology; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019838:Neck Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D010614:Pharynx / Q000473:pathology; D013405:Suicide
D002133:Calcium Sulfate