Case report
Pathoanatomic findings and blood alcohol analysis at autopsy (BAC) in forensic diagnoses of undetermined suicide. A cross-cultural study

https://doi.org/10.1016/0379-0738(95)01890-5Get rights and content

Abstract

In Sweden, ca. 25% of unnatural deaths ascribed to self-inflicted injury are finally recorded as ‘undetermined suicide’ (abbreviated UMSA), i.e. the forensic pathologist has not been able to establish whether the fatality was an accident or a suicide. In the present study, a series of UMSA cases was investigated with the aims to study the impact of immigrant status, and alcohol abuse on the occurrence of this forensic diagnosis on the mode of death. The alcohol issue was addressed by focusing on blood alcohol concentrations at autopsy (BAC) and post mortem signs of alcohol-related organ pathology. The results can be summarised as follows: Positive BAC occurred at an equal rate in the UMSA group and in definite suicides, i.e. about 45%. Among non-Swedish UMSA victims positive BAC was more common (50%) than among the Swedish (41%), whereas no difference was found in the definite suicide group. The level of BAC at autopsy was significantly higher in Finnish immigrants than in other ethnic groups. Organic signs of chronic alcohol abuse were found in 13 of 40 cases testing positive for BAC; thus, presence of alcohol at autopsy may reflect incidental intake rather than habitual overconsumption.

References (11)

  • A.U. Hansen et al.

    The manner and cause of death in a forensic series of chronic alcoholics

    Forensic Sci. Int.

    (1991)
  • M. Ferrada-Noli

    Psychiatric and forensic findings in definite and undetermined suicides. An epidemiological and cross-cultural study

  • J. Beskow

    Uncertainty — a problem when classifying suicide

    Läkartidn.

    (1974)
  • M. Ferrada-Noli

    The study of risk factors in psychological autopsies

  • M. Ferrada-Noli et al.

    Suicides and undetermined suicides among immigrants in Sweden

    Acta Psychiatr. Scand.

    (1995)
There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

Cited by (32)

  • Forensic and clinical carbon monoxide (CO) poisonings in Turkey: A detailed analysis

    2013, Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine
    Citation Excerpt :

    Tables 1 and 2 summarize and review all the CO poisoning cases on medico-legal autopsies by related branches of Council of Forensic Medicine of Turkey. Fatal poisoning due to CO is a common problem in Turkey while alcohol and drug related deaths are known as a major problem in Western societies in comparison to the other societies.5–8 Only a few manuscripts dealing with the fatal poisonings in Turkey were found.

  • Suicide in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    2002, Journal of Clinical Forensic Medicine
  • Forensic science

    1997, Analytical Chemistry
  • Post traumatic stress disorder and suicidal behavior

    2012, Exploring the Phenomenon of Suicide
View all citing articles on Scopus
View full text