Homicide by poisoning.
By studying the number and method of homicidal poisoning in Miami-Dade County, Florida; New York City, NY; Oakland County, Michigan; and Sweden, we have confirmed that this is an infrequently established crime.Several difficulties come with the detection of homicidal poisonings. Presenting symptoms and signs are often misdiagnosed as natural disease, especially if the crime is committed in a hospital environment, suggesting that an unknown number of homicides go undetected.In the reported cases analyzed, the lethal agent of choice has changed over the years. In earlier years, traditional poisons such as arsenic, cyanide, and parathion were frequently used. Such poisonings are nowadays rare, and instead, narcotics are more commonly detected in victims of this crime.
Section of Forensic Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
Amanda
A
Finnberg
Mensura
M
Junuzovic
Ljubisa
L
Dragovic
Ruben
R
Ortiz-Reyes
Marianne
M
Hamel
Joseph
J
Davis
Anders
A
Eriksson
D000328:Adult; D020261:Arsenic Poisoning / Q000401:mortality; D002249:Carbon Monoxide Poisoning / Q000401:mortality; D002424:Caustics / Q000506:poisoning; D028601:Euthanasia, Active / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D053593:Forensic Toxicology; D006708:Homicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000506:poisoning; D008297:Male; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D011041:Poisoning / Q000401:mortality*; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000506:poisoning; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013548:Sweden; D014481:United States
D002424:Caustics; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D011189:Potassium Chloride