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A Suicide Attempt by Helium Gas and Plastic Bag in Iran: A Case Report
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Seyed Mohammad Saadatneshan   |
| Legal Medicine Research Center, Iranian Legal Medicine Organization, Tehran, Iran , smsaadat48@gmail.com |
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Abstract: (265877 Views) |
Introduction: Helium is a non-toxic gas, but due to its physical properties, if inhaled, it can be replaced with carbon dioxide and oxygen. With the reduction of carbon dioxide in the receptors of the respiratory center in the medulla oblongata, reflexes, and respiratory activities decrease and thus can reduce the level of consciousness and subsequently lead to death. Due to the properties of helium, this gas can be utilized for easy and painless suicide attempt.
Case Report: The present case is a 17-year-old boy whose body was found in a hotel. At the scene of death, a plastic bag was found around the head, which was connected to the helium gas tank with a hose. A manuscript, suicide instrument, and a plan were also found on the scene of death. Autopsy findings indicated multiple petechiae between the lung lobes. In laboratory studies, psychiatric drugs of the case were observed in toxicological samples that were his daily medications. The boy had a history of major depression and previous unsuccessful suicide attempts.
Conclusion: Using this method to commit suicide can interfere in determining the cause of death due to the lack of specific evidence in the autopsy, which requires more attention of physicians and pathologists to this method of suicide and meanwhile to the evidence at the scene of death. |
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| Keywords: Suicide, Helium, Case Reports |
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Full-Text [PDF 555 kb]
(2641 Downloads)
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Type of Article: Case Report |
Subject:
Community Medicine
Received: 2021/11/10 | Revised: 2022/02/9 | Accepted: 2022/01/31 | ePublished: 2022/02/7
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