title: An overhung mute suspect died during restraint - Is this a case of positional asphyxia?
abstract: Positional asphyxia is a specific type of suffocation that results from the body being forced and fixed in a particular position causing death by suffocation. The body exhibits obvious general characteristics of death by suffocation. We report a case of custody death that may have been caused by positional asphyxia. The mute criminal suspect died in a detention room after arrest. The suspect was found unconscious and died following placement in a hanging position for 8 h. We reviewed the case with respect to the autopsy findings, pathological changes, and specific scene where the death occurred as well as the circumstantial correlation of the investigation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, Shanghai Medical School of Fudan University, 131 Dongan Road, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: chenlong@shmu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Long
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, Shanghai Medical School of Fudan University, 131 Dongan Road, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, Shanghai Medical School of Fudan University, 131 Dongan Road, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jianlong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, Shanghai Medical School of Fudan University, 131 Dongan Road, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yehui
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, Shanghai Medical School of Fudan University, 131 Dongan Road, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Heng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Public Security Bureau, Pudong Branch, 655 Dingxiang Road, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Wencan
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001237:Asphyxia / Q000209:etiology*; D002681:China; D005554:Forensic Medicine; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000150:complications; D009155:Mutism; D011187:Posture; D011329:Prisoners; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation; D012149:Restraint, Physical / Q000009:adverse effects*
keywords: Autopsy; Custody restraint position; Forensic pathology; Forensic science; Positional asphyxia; Postural restriction