Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine
Volume 14, Issue 1 , Pages 39-41, January 2007

An unusual case of suicidal asphyxia by smothering

Institute of Forensic Sciences, University Hospital of Tours, Trousseau, 37 044 Tours, France

Received 11 July 2005; received in revised form 14 November 2005; accepted 29 November 2005.

Abstract 

A case is presented of a 30-year-old man suffering from borderline personality disorder who committed suicide by means of smothering. He was hospitalized at the psychiatric department of a public hospital for several months and was found dead in the seclusion room. The death resulted from an obstruction of the upper aerodigestive tract after ingurgitation of pellets of toilet paper. A literature review revealed several cases of suicidal asphyxia by smothering of patients with a history of psychiatric illness. Our patient’s operating process had not been reported before to our knowledge.

Keywords: Asphyxia, Smothering, Suicide, Autopsy, Psychiatric in-surveillance

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PII: S1353-1131(05)00212-9

doi:10.1016/j.jcfm.2005.11.015

Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine
Volume 14, Issue 1 , Pages 39-41, January 2007

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