1
|
Cirielli V, Cecchetto G, Narayanasamy M, Eccher A, Gobbo S, Brunelli M, Pigaiani N. Atypical suicide by single incising cut to the throat without hesitation marks: Case report and review of the literature. Leg Med (Tokyo) 2024; 70:102468. [PMID: 38851015 DOI: 10.1016/j.legalmed.2024.102468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2024] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024]
Abstract
Several studies have been performed to recognize the main features in homicide and suicide sharp wound-related death, revealing that a single cutting wound to the neck is an infrequent event in suicide cases, and several hesitation marks near the fatal injury are usually present. We report a case of an atypical self-inflicted cutthroat injury without tentative marks involving a 79-year-old female. The weapon used, a kitchen knife, was found at the crime scene. The wound had clean margins, and no other incisions were found. Scene circumstances, namely the absence of signs of a break-in, the victim found on the bed, the knife located near the body, the vital wound in an accessible site, and the absence of defense injuries, collectively support a likely suicide. A literature review was also performed to compare forensic data of the case presented with the other 6 cases reported regarding atypical suicide characterized by a single incising cut to the throat without hesitation marks. Given the few cases reported and the lack of gross descriptions and histopathological data available in the literature, additional knowledge of such a case may help forensic pathologists in the identification of suicidal events when a single neck injury is observed. In this frame, suicide by a unique single incising cut to the throat without hesitation marks near the lethal injury may be observed as an atypical presentation, and the crime scene investigation, together with additional background information of the deceased, aid in the identification of the manner of the death.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- V Cirielli
- Unit of Forensic Medicine, Department of Prevention, ULSS 8 Berica, Vicenza, Italy; Section of Forensic Medicine, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Italy
| | - G Cecchetto
- Unit of Forensic Medicine, Department of Cardio-Thoracic-Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, Italy
| | - M Narayanasamy
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - A Eccher
- Institute of Pathology, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - S Gobbo
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, Italy
| | - M Brunelli
- Section of Pathology, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Italy
| | - N Pigaiani
- Section of Forensic Medicine, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Kalochristianakis M, Kontogiannis A, Flouri DE, Nathena D, Kanaki K, Kranioti EF. IPPASOS: The first digital forensic information system in Greece. HEALTH INF MANAG J 2024; 53:137-144. [PMID: 36802854 DOI: 10.1177/18333583221144664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/20/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This article describes the first digital clinical information system tailored to support the operational needs of a forensic unit in Greece and to maintain its archives. METHOD The development of our system was initiated towards the end of 2018, as a close collaboration between the Medical School of the University of Crete and the Forensic Medicine Unit of the University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, where forensic pathologists assumed active roles during the specification and testing of the system. RESULTS The final prototype of the system was able to manage the life cycle of any forensic case by allowing users to create new records, assign them to forensic pathologists, upload reports, multimedia and any required files; mark the end of processing, issue certificates or appropriate legal documents, produce reports and generate statistics. For the first 4 years of digitised data (2017-2021), the system recorded 2936 forensic examinations categorised as 106 crime scene investigations, 259 external examinations, 912 autopsies, 102 post-mortem CT examinations, 804 histological examinations, 116 clinical examinations, 12 anthropological examinations and 625 embalmings. CONCLUSION This research represents the first systematic effort to record forensic cases through a digital clinical information system in Greece, and to demonstrate its effectiveness, daily usability and vast potential for data extraction and for future research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Andreas Kontogiannis
- Medical School, University of Crete, Greece
- Forensic Medicine Unit, Department of Forensic Sciences, University Hospital of Heraklion, Greece
| | - Despoina E Flouri
- Medical School, University of Crete, Greece
- Forensic Medicine Unit, Department of Forensic Sciences, University Hospital of Heraklion, Greece
| | - Despoina Nathena
- Forensic Medicine Unit, Department of Forensic Sciences, University Hospital of Heraklion, Greece
| | - Katerina Kanaki
- Forensic Medicine Unit, Department of Forensic Sciences, University Hospital of Heraklion, Greece
| | - Elena F Kranioti
- Medical School, University of Crete, Greece
- Forensic Medicine Unit, Department of Forensic Sciences, University Hospital of Heraklion, Greece
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Kasim AAA, Alzubaidi FM, Zakari YH, Shatwan AAA, Mulla SS, Alasmari A, Ibrahim SF. The manner of death in a case with two stab wounds caused by two weapons: case report. EGYPTIAN JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES 2022. [DOI: 10.1186/s41935-022-00316-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Stabbing is a relatively uncommon method of suicide. Typical suicide is usually associated with tentative wounds. Self-stabbing using two sharp weapons to produce two stab wounds without tentative marks is an uncommon incidence.
Case presentation
A 42-year-old Austronesian descent male with a history of family troubles was found dead by his friend inside a clothing store; two kitchen knives were present on both sides of the body. There were two stab wounds in the chest and the abdomen without any superficial hesitation cuts. At the crime scene, there were two blood pools.
Conclusion
The number of injuries with the absence of hesitation injuries raised suspicions of an atypical case of suicide that necessitated further forensic investigations. However, the circumstantial evidence and autopsy findings demonstrated that suicide was the cause of death.
Collapse
|
5
|
Papadodima SA, Karakasi MV, Pavlidis P, Nastoulis E, Fragkou K, Dimitriou K, Alexandri M, Markopoulou M, Douzenis A, Spiliopoulou C. Self-immolation Suicide in Greece: A Forensic Psychiatric Autopsy Study between 2011 and 2019. J Forensic Sci 2020; 65:1656-1668. [PMID: 32658387 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.14498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Revised: 05/08/2020] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Self-immolation is a rare suicide method in the developed countries of the western world (0.06-1%); however, it has relatively higher prevalence rates in the developing countries of Asia and Africa (6-57%). The present study aims to examine self-immolation suicides within the Greek mainland (Attiki, Thrace, and Peloponnese) over a period of 9 years (2011-2019) in order to investigate the phenomenon in the Greek population forensically, identify the characteristics and motivations of suicide victims, explore its associations to socio-cultural or psychiatric factors, and describe a fatal case of suicide by self-immolation that was partially recorded on camera. The medical files (autopsy reports) of cases performed at the Departments of Forensic Medicine of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Democritus University of Thrace, and the Forensic Service of Messinia-Peloponnese were retrospectively examined yielding 19 cases of suicides by self-immolation. A 3.7% prevalence of suicide by self-immolation among suicide fatalities within the Greek population was estimated. A distinctive feature of the Greek population regarding self-immolation was disclosed that it is being practiced predominantly by the elderly (mean age 2-3.5 decades higher than other countries). The phenomenon correlated strongly with poorly controlled mental disorders (mostly affective and adjustment disorders). Unlike other countries, there was no significant association with domestic or sexual violence, social or political protest, or religious issues. Therefore, the suicide victims preferred secluded or private outdoor locations (not public). Findings deriving from the examined variables localize Greek population culturally between the Western European and Asian African countries, but with its own idiosyncrasies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stavroula A Papadodima
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Goudi, Athens, GR 11527, Greece
| | - Maria-Valeria Karakasi
- Third University Department of Psychiatry, AHEPA University General Hospital - Department of Mental Health, Aristotle University - Faculty of Medicine, Thessaloniki, GR 54124, Greece.,Laboratory of Forensic Sciences, School of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, GR 68100, Greece
| | - Pavlos Pavlidis
- Laboratory of Forensic Sciences, School of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, GR 68100, Greece
| | - Evangelos Nastoulis
- Laboratory of Forensic Sciences, School of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, GR 68100, Greece
| | - Kallirroi Fragkou
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Goudi, Athens, GR 11527, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Dimitriou
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Goudi, Athens, GR 11527, Greece
| | - Maria Alexandri
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Goudi, Athens, GR 11527, Greece
| | - Maria Markopoulou
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Psychiatric Hospital of Thessaloniki, Stavroupolis, Thessaloniki, GR 56429, Greece
| | - Athanassios Douzenis
- Second Psychiatry Department, Attikon University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Chaidari, GR 12462, Greece
| | - Chara Spiliopoulou
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Goudi, Athens, GR 11527, Greece
| |
Collapse
|