title: Suicide by drowning: A forensic challenge.
abstract: In the case of suicidal drowning forensic examination is difficult, particularly with regard to differentiating between suicide, accident, homicide and natural death. Bondage and weighting with objects, putrescence and attendant lesions aggravate interpretation and investigation of postmortal forensic findings. In this respect, two cases of seemingly homicidal drowning with leg and arm bondage and weighting, to prevent resurfacing, are presented and discussed.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Legal Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany. Electronic address: todt.melanie@mh-hannover.de.
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Todt
authors.affiliation: Institute of Legal Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Pappelallee 4, 26122 Oldenburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Friedrich
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ast
authors.affiliation: Institute of Legal Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Roman
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wolff-Maras
authors.affiliation: Institute of Legal Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Birte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Roesler
authors.affiliation: Institute of Legal Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Germerott
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004332:Drowning / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D011656:Pulmonary Emphysema / Q000473:pathology; D013405:Suicide; D016474:Weight-Bearing; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Bondage; Drowning; Forensic medicine; Suicide