Indicators of abuse in the elderly ICU patient

[The forensic medical aspects of the problem of victimization of the elderly persons as exemplified by a case of suicide of an oncological patient]

The frequency of suicides is an indirect indicator of the social welfare without distinction as to the social and political system. This problem is of special importance as regards the well-being of elderly people whose numbers grow steadily all over the world. The extending life expectancy at older ages in the combination with the resulting demographic disproportions have widespread repercussions on the older generation because they are associated with the increase of the negative social trends as exemplified by a case of suicide of the 89 year-old man A who had for a long time suffered from an oncological disease and was entirely dependent upon the assistance from other people. The authors emphasize that the most important factors responsible for the currently enhanced frequency of suicidal attempts among the elderly persons include the life below the poverty line, permanent stress, poor housing conditions, family conflicts, the ever increasing prevalence of somato-neurological and psychic pathologies, etc. The comprehensive forensic medical and socio-hygienic analysis of all cases of suicide and numerous relevant risk factors may be instrumental in the systematization of the statistical information on the nosological forms of specific pathologies, and the development of the adequate measures for the prevention of the deviant behaviour among the old-age subjects at the regional level. Such analysis may contribute to the reduction of the mortality among the populations of the advanced age especially in the high-risk groups including the elderly people.