Med Amin Mesrati, Yosra Mahjoub, Marwa Boussaïd, Hiba Limem, Nouha Abdejlil, Ali Chadly, Abir Aissaoui
{"title":"Unusual cases of suicidal electrocution using a homemade device.","authors":"Med Amin Mesrati, Yosra Mahjoub, Marwa Boussaïd, Hiba Limem, Nouha Abdejlil, Ali Chadly, Abir Aissaoui","doi":"10.1177/00258172211024836","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The common methods of suicide are hanging and poisoning. Suicidal electrocution using a homemade device is very rare. Victims usually possess knowledge of electrical circuits. Here, we report two cases of suicide by electrocution using a homemade device.</p><p><strong>Case presentation: </strong><b>Case 1:</b> A retired electrical technician was found unresponsive in his bedroom, with two bare copper wires; one encircling the index finger of the left hand, and the other placed in the mouth. The other ends of the wires were connected to a wall plug supplying 220 V current. Forensic autopsy and microscopic findings attributed death to suicidal electrocution.<b>Case 2:</b> A 51-year-old-man was found dead in the bathroom with bare copper wires encircling both wrists and connected to a wall plug carrying 220 V current. Death scene investigation, necropsy, histological tests and toxicological screening indicated suicide by electrocution.</p>","PeriodicalId":35529,"journal":{"name":"Medico-Legal Journal","volume":" ","pages":"39-41"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0000,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Medico-Legal Journal","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00258172211024836","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2021/7/20 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"Medicine","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: The common methods of suicide are hanging and poisoning. Suicidal electrocution using a homemade device is very rare. Victims usually possess knowledge of electrical circuits. Here, we report two cases of suicide by electrocution using a homemade device.
Case presentation: Case 1: A retired electrical technician was found unresponsive in his bedroom, with two bare copper wires; one encircling the index finger of the left hand, and the other placed in the mouth. The other ends of the wires were connected to a wall plug supplying 220 V current. Forensic autopsy and microscopic findings attributed death to suicidal electrocution.Case 2: A 51-year-old-man was found dead in the bathroom with bare copper wires encircling both wrists and connected to a wall plug carrying 220 V current. Death scene investigation, necropsy, histological tests and toxicological screening indicated suicide by electrocution.
期刊介绍:
The Medico-Legal journal is the official journal of Medico-Legal Society. The Royal Society of Medicine Press is delighted to announce the launch in July 2009 of the Medico-Legal journal, on behalf of the Medico-Legal Society. The Medico-Legal Journal provides an official record of the proceedings of the Medico-Legal Society, and is dedicated to promoting Medico-Legal knowledge in all its aspects. As well as providing a record of activity in the Society, the journal includes a unique collection of contributions and speeches from eminent speakers at society events.