The “ Social-mobile autopsy ”: The evolution of psychological autopsy with new technologies in forensic investigations on suicide

Selfie accidents and crimes in Egypt: A comprehensive discussion of the medico-legal implications

Selfies are self-surveillance images or videos captured by individuals using digital cameras that, in the attempt to obtain content, may lead to selfie-related injuries or deaths. Criminal selfies refer to offenders who take selfies with their victim(s) during crimes. Globally, both phenomena are underestimated due to deficient official data and the social nature of these incidents. This pioneering media-based retrospective study on selfie-related trauma aims to offset the literature deficit on this topic in Egypt, as an Arabic-speaking country, and extend the global understanding beyond the Western context. We utilised the Egyptian newspaper articles published between January 2014 and May 2023. We identified 25 reports of selfie-related accidents that resulted in 29 casualties with an 82.8% fatality rate. Male victims outnumbered female victims and the mean age was 21.8 years, with most victims aged in their twenties. Regarding the causes of selfie-related deaths, drowning in the Nile ranked first (43.4%) followed by falling from a height (26%). Unless suicide was suspected (n = 1), the remaining cases were considered accidental. We also found four reported criminal selfies that were associated with intimate partner violence. Three of these offenders were male, of which two had a history of drug addiction. In contrast to selfie cases, only one offender belonged to the second decade age group. Overall, selfie-related deaths were infrequent, with an average of three incidents per year. In conclusion, audio-visual communication has altered the modus operandi of crimes, so the digital media analysis should supplement the criminological and medicolegal processes.

Personality Comparison between Lethal and Non-lethal Intimate Partner Violence Perpetrators and Their Victims

Intimate partner violence against women (IPVAW) and femicide (intimate partner femicide, IPF), as a worldwide phenomenon, cannot be explained in a simple way. From an ecological point of view, there are individual factors contemplated. In the current studies, we consider personality as an individual factor to clarify what differentiates a non-lethal IPVAW situation from a femicide. Study 1 was designed to investigate the accuracy with which trained interviewers judged the personality of a group of IPVAW perpetrators during an interview. The target sample of study 1 was composed of 293 males who after being interviewed completed a measure of personality assessing the "Big Three" model of personality. The interviewers performed fairly accurate judgements about the personality of the target participants. Study 2 shows the differences in personality, using Eysenck's personality model, between the IPF and IPVAW perpetrators and their victims. The total sample study 2 was formed of 551 participants distributed among IPF perpetrators, IPVAW perpetrators, and the victims of both groups. Differences in proportions were observed between both groups of perpetrators as well as between each group and their respective victims. With these findings, we propose personality as a femicide risk factor that should be taken into consideration by police officers and other practitioners when receiving an IPVAW report.

The Risk of Suicide in the Post-COVID-19 Emergency Era: Psychological and Forensic Implications

The emergence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic brought numerous challenges, including the management of psychological and psychiatric disorders, leading to an increased risk of suicide. At the end of the COVID-19 emergency, we wonder what the impact of the pandemic has been, and still is, on the state of public mental health with respect to the phenomenon of suicide. Therefore, this review aims to explore the psychological and forensic aspects of suicide in the post-COVID-19 emergency era. The paper will delve into the various psychiatric disorders associated in the literature with COVID-19, the risk factors for suicide during the pandemic, and measures that can be taken to prevent suicide in the post-COVID-19 era. Additionally, the paper will look at how forensic experts investigate suicide cases due to COVID-19 and the legal implications of suicide due to the pandemic. The findings of this study will provide insights into the psychological and forensic aspects of suicide in the post-COVID era, and emphasize interventions and policy development to address this growing public health concern.

Unexplained and Unexpected Pediatric Deaths: Forensic Review and New Perspectives

Unexplained and unexpected pediatric deaths are a major challenge in global healthcare. The role of the forensic pathologist is crucial in determining the cause and manner of death in these cases, although to date, there are many limitations in post-mortem diagnosis. The role of the autopsy and related forensic investigations become a fundamental tool to investigate and give an explanation for an unacceptable event, considering the young age of the victims. From this point of view, even today, it is necessary that this phenomenon is correctly recorded through standardized systems and universally accepted methods. Furthermore, it is essential that scientific research on this topic is increased through the implementation of universally accepted operating protocols recognizing real risk factors in order to prevent such events. The purpose of the study is to offer a review of the state of the art about unexplained pediatric death and, above all, to propose an international reporting platform, extending proper investigations not only to judicial cases but also to all the other cases of unexpected pediatric death.

Mind the past: A systematic review on psychological autopsy

Psychological Autopsy (PA) has become widespread to the point of being applied in many diverse fields. However, it is difficult to identify a standard model. In this systematic review, we focused on PA studies assessing mental illness as a major risk factor for suicide. The research, performed on Scopus, Embase, and Pubmed to cover the last 20 years led to 321 reports of which 15 met the inclusion criteria. Results confirmed mental illness as the main risk factor for suicide, followed by specific socio-demographic factors and life events. The analysis of methodologies depicted a still highly heterogeneous scenario, especially regarding data collection and variables included. However, concerning psychiatric evaluations, an initial standardization process of PA models emerged. In conclusion, the approach is in evolution, and novel guidelines are needed to promote the application of PA as a fundamental tool to inform suicide prevention efforts and to assist forensic examiners in court.

The final destination: Incorporating 'Death by GPS' into forensic and legal sciences

This article seeks to give visibility to a growing program: Motorists who set out for travel following directions from their GPS device and never return. These occurrences have gained the moniker 'Death by GPS'. From giving incorrect directions, to taking motorists to isolated areas, to directing motorists into unsafe neighborhoods, GPS technology has led several people into catastrophic scenarios. This article is split into two sections. In the first section, the varying causes of Death by GPS are examined, alongside notable cases. In the second section, as Death by GPS is understudied in forensic science and legal spaces, the author explores the societal and scientific benefits of filling this gap. Relying on relevant collision figures, cultural trends, death science, legal studies, and ethics literature, this article produces groundwork on the growing issue of Death by GPS and identifies areas for future exploration.

The Role of Autopsy and Post-Mortem Investigations in Falling Traumas in the Hospital Environment

Falls in a hospital setting are a global public health problem. Despite the production of sensors and various preventive tools to reduce the risk, falls remain a dangerous event with a significant impact on the morbidity and mortality of patients. Despite numerous prevention strategies, falling in the hospital are not always investigated and the autopsy is not always performed in these cases, so it is often not known whether the death is related to the fall or to other causes, inevitably affecting the assessment of any profiles of medical liability for health personnel or for the hospital in the accident. We describe three cases of falls that occurred in different hospitals, in which the autopsy allowed to diagnose with certainty the extent of the trauma and to reconstruct its dynamics. Along with the circumstantial and documentary analyses, deficiencies both in the trauma diagnostics and in the application of the safety measures on the patients were showed. Together with the description of our cases, we propose the post-mortem investigations of these events, both for judicial and risk management purposes.

Verbal Autopsy as a Tool for Defining Causes of Death in Specific Healthcare Contexts: Study of Applicability through a Traditional Literature Review

Autopsy examination, the gold standard for defining causes of death, is often difficult to apply in certain health care settings, especially in developing countries. The COVID-19 pandemic and its associated difficulties in terms of implementing autopsy examinations have made the need for alternative means of determining causes of death even more evident. One of the most interesting alternatives to the conventional autopsy is the verbal autopsy, a tool that originated in Africa and Asia in the 1950s and consists of a structured interview with the deceased's family members concerning the symptoms manifested by the person and the circumstances of death. In the early 1990s, the first doubts emerged about the validity of verbal autopsies, especially about the real reliability of the cause of death identified through this tool. The objective of the review was to identify studies that had assayed the validity of verbal autopsies through a rigorous comparison of the results that emerged from it with the results of conventional autopsies. When starting from an initial pool of 256 articles, only 2 articles were selected for final review. These are the only two original research articles in which a verbal autopsy validation process was performed by employing the full diagnostic autopsy as the gold standard. The two papers reached opposite conclusions, one suggesting adequate validity of verbal autopsy in defining the cause of death and the other casting serious doubts on the real applicability of this tool. Verbal autopsy undoubtedly has extraordinary potential, especially in the area of health and demographic surveillance, even considering the implementation that could result from the use of artificial intelligence and deep learning. However, at present, there appears to be a lack of solid data to support the robust reliability of this tool in defining causes of death.

Die Abgrenzung der Fremdtötung von der eigenverantwortlichen Selbsttötung: Doppelsuizid, erweiterter Suizid oder Homizid-Suizid?

In der Literatur finden sich vielfach Publikationen und Kasuistiken, die sich mit zeitlich, örtlich, partnerschaftlich und/oder familiär im Zusammenhang stehenden nichtnatürlichen Todesfälle unabhängig von der Art und Weise zweier oder mehrerer Personen auseinandersetzen. Im Nachfolgenden sollen jene Fälle genauer betrachtet werden, bei denen zumindest in einem der Fälle naheliegt, dass es sich beispielsweise aufgrund der Spurenlage um einen freiverantwortlichen Suizidentschluss gehandelt hat. Diese werden u. a. als „erweiterte Suizide“ oder in jüngerer Zeit auch als „Homizid-Suizide“ bezeichnet. Diese theoriespezifizierten Nomenklaturen finden sich nicht zuletzt deshalb berechtigt kritisiert, als dass die Motive, genauen Tatumstände und Tathintergründe oftmals nicht bekannt sind und somit eine (vorgreifende) Wertung erfolgt, ohne dass andere mögliche Tathergänge zur Diskussion gestanden hätten. Daher stellt sich zunächst die Frage nach der generellen und konkreten Eignung dieser Nomenklaturen hinsichtlich ihrer Anwendbarkeit, mit der sich daran anschließenden Überlegung einer neu zu definierenden übergeordneten Bezeichnung. Die Komplexität dieser Begrifflichkeiten soll im Nachfolgenden an dem gemeinsamen Tod eines älteren Ehepaares verdeutlicht werden.

Inconsistencies in Overdose Suicide Death Investigation Practice and Potential Remedies Using Technology: A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Consultation Meeting Summary

INTRODUCTION

It is widely accepted that suicides-which account for more than 47 500 deaths per year in the United States-are undercounted by 10% to 30%, partially due to incomplete death scene investigations (DSI) and varying burden-of-proof standards across jurisdictions. This may result in the misclassification of overdose-related suicides as accidents or undetermined intent.

METHODS

Virtual and in-person meetings were held with suicidologists and DSI experts from five states (Spring-Summer 2017) to explore how features of a hypothetical electronic DSI tool may help address these challenges.

RESULTS

Participants envisioned a mobile DSI application for cell phones, tablets, or laptop computers. Features for systematic information collection, scene description, and guiding key informant interviews were perceived as useful for less-experienced investigators.

DISCUSSION

Wide adoption may be challenging due to differences in DSI standards, practices, costs, data privacy and security, and system integration needs. However, technological tools that support consistent and complete DSIs could strengthen the information needed to accurately identify overdose suicides.

The forensic analysis of homemade explosive suicides: Case report and systematic review of the literature

The illegal construction of explosive devices for recreational purposes has become increasingly widespread in recent years. This phenomenon is spurred on by numerous websites that explain how to build a self-made device. The correlation between the use of firearms and suicide is known in the literature, but the use of explosive devices and self-harm is little studied. Unfortunately, the risk associated with the manufacture of homemade explosives is poorly known. For this purpose, we describe a rare suicide carried out by a man suffering from depressive disorder with psychotic and delusional features. The forensic investigations at the scene showed that the man had designed a homemade device, and disseminated numerous suicide notes in his home, transcribed in the previous weeks in which he revealed his suicidal motivation. Crime scene investigation showed on the body and on the road in front of the explosion point: multiple fragments of glass (zone 1), a lighter with blood stains (zone 2), and shreds of clothing scattered along the road (zone 3). Autopsy revealed that the cause of death was extensive blunt injury to head and trunk due to barotrauma due to the explosion of a homemade device. The case is compared with data from a systematic review of the forensic literature on suicides involving explosives. The study proposes the analysis of planimetric areas in these crime scene investigations and active surveillance in these subjects.

Analysis of the persistence time of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the cadaver and the risk of passing infection to autopsy staff

The activity of the SARS-CoV-2 virus has not yet been studied in a post-mortem setting. The absence of these data has led to the prohibition of exposure of infected corpses during burial procedures. Our aim was to assess the virus's persistence and the possibility of transmission in the post-mortem phase including autopsy staff. The sample group included 29 patients who were admitted to our Covid-19 Centre who died during hospitalisation and the autopsy staff. All the swabs were subjected to a one-step real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction with cycle threshold (Ct) values. Swab collection was performed at 2 h, 4 h, 6 h, 12 h, over 24 since death. The following were the analysis of patients' swabs: 10 cases were positive 2 h after death; 10 cases positive 4 h after death; 9 cases were found positive 6 h after death; 7 cases positive 12 h after death; 9 cases remained positive 24 h after death. The swabs performed on all the forensic pathologist staff on duty who performed the autopsies were negative. The choice to avoid rituals and the display of corpses before and at the burial procedures given appears cautiously valid due to the persistence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the post-mortem period. Although the caution in choosing whether or not to perform an autopsy on infected corpses is acceptable, not to perform autopsies is not biologically supported.

The role of ethanethiol in deaths from acute poisoning by gas mixtures: A suicide case involving a decomposed corpse and a review of the literature

The most common volatile substances used in suicide are liquefied petroleum gas mixtures, which consist of propane and butane gases mixed in different proportions. These substances are odourless and colourless. Some substances, such as ethanethiol, are added to liquefied petroleum gas mixtures to provide a garlic scent. The main causes of death in acute liquefied petroleum gas inhalation are cardiac arrest and asphyxia, but determining the manner of death is difficult. We present a case of a 30-year-old man found dead at home. On his head was a black plastic bag with a hole through which he had run a gas hose connected to a domestic liquefied petroleum gas cylinder tank. Toxicological analysis revealed butane and ethanethiol in his body. This study aims at understanding the lethal role of ethanethiol through the analysis of its chemical action and its influence on decomposition.

Quarantine of the Covid-19 pandemic in suicide: A psychological autopsy

The epidemiology of suicide has identified numerous psychiatric and occupational risk factors. The circumstances surrounding a suicide are fundamental to determining whether its characteristics will play a crucial role in the decision-making process. The state of emergency arising from the Covid-19 pandemic has introduced a new element, given the general concern and feelings of alarm which are global. The most suitable forensic method to analyse these cases is the psychological autopsy. This study's purpose is to analyse the application of the psychological autopsy method to evaluate the impact of the pandemic where government lockdowns impose restrictions on personal freedom. We set out to consider how far this together with other factors may induce suicide. The literature does not as yet offer us a retrospective analysis of the influence of the global pandemic state on rates of suicide. Accordingly, we report a forensic case and examine the critical issues and problems in the management of these cases.

A Bibliometric Analysis of the Health Field Regarding Social Networks and Young People

Social networks have historically been used to share information and support regarding health-related topics, and this usage has increased with the rise of online social media. Young people are high users of social media, both as passive listeners and as active contributors. This study aimed to map the trends in publications focused on social networks, health, and young people over the last 40 years. Scopus and the program VOSviewer were used to map the frequency of the publications, keywords, and clusters of researchers active in the field internationally. A structured keyword search using the Scopus database yielded 11,966 publications. The results reveal a long history of research on social networks, health, and young people. Research articles were the most common type of publication (68%), most of which described quantitative studies (82%). The main discipline represented in this literature was medicine, with 6062 documents. North American researchers dominate the field, both as authors and partners in international research collaborations. The present article adds to the literature by elucidating the growing importance of social networks in health research as a topic of study. This may help to inform future investments in public health research and surveillance using these novel data sources.