Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine
Volume 15, Issue 7 , Pages 415-419 , October 2008

Conditions and circumstances predisposing to death from positional asphyxia in adults

  • Roger W. Byard, MBBS MD (Professor of Pathology)

      Affiliations

    • Discipline of Pathology, Level 3 Medical School North Building, The University of Adelaide, Frome Road, Adelaide 5005, Australia
    • Forensic Science SA, Adelaide, Australia
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Address: Discipline of Pathology, Level 3 Medical School North Building, The University of Adelaide, Frome Road, Adelaide 5005, Australia. Tel.: +61 8 8303 5441; fax: +61 8 8303 4408.
  • ,
  • Regula Wick, MD (Forensic Pathologist)

      Affiliations

    • Forensic Science SA, Adelaide, Australia
  • ,
  • John D. Gilbert, FRCPA (Forensic Pathologist)

      Affiliations

    • Forensic Science SA, Adelaide, Australia

Received 13 July 2007 ,Revised 22 December 2007 ,Accepted 5 January 2008.

References 

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  2. Byard RW. The brassiere ‘sign’ – a distinctive marker in crush asphyxia. J Clin Forensic Med. 2005;12:316–319
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PII: S1752-928X(08)00011-5

doi: 10.1016/j.jflm.2008.01.001

Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine
Volume 15, Issue 7 , Pages 415-419 , October 2008