Complex Suicide in a Drug Addict; A Case Report

Abstract

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INTRODUCTION The term “complex suicide” irefers to suicides in which more than one method is applied. It is further classified as planned and unplanned complex suicides. In planned complex suicides, two or more methods are employed simultaneously in order to make sure that death will occur even if one method fails. In unplanned complex suicides, several other methods of suicide are tried after the first method chosen fails. Following case discussion is on a death with two methods of suicide. CASE REPORT Body of a 20 year Old drug addict was recovered from a river. A blood stained table knife was found in his room. There were no features of struggle at scenes. He had no previous attempts of suicide. Autopsy examination revealed four (4) superficial and parallel cut throat injuries, There were no evidence of haemorrhagic shock, blood aspiration or air embolism. Fine continuous froth with kissing hyper inflated lungs were found. The cause of death was given as drowning. CONCLUSIONS Since there were two methods of suicide, namely cut throat and jumping to river, this is a complex suicide. Cut throat injuries should have been inflicted before entering to water. Therefore, the initial cut throat injuries had been failed and subsequently succeeded by jumping to river. Therefore, this should be an unplanned complex suicide.