Article

Further observations on the speed of death in hanging.

Forensic Science SA, Adelaide 5000, SA, Australia.
Journal of Forensic Sciences (impact factor: 1.23). 08/2008; 53(5):1204-5. DOI:10.1111/j.1556-4029.2008.00840.x pp.1204-5
Source: PubMed

ABSTRACT Given that most fatal hangings are suicidal and occur in locations that have been selected to conceal this activity (thus maximizing the chances of a lethal outcome), there has been very little corroboration of the speed with which unconsciousness and death may occur. A 35-year-old male is reported who committed suicide by hanging immediately after talking to his spouse. Police investigations confirmed her reliability as a witness indicating that lethal anoxia in this case had occurred within a very short time (most likely in less than 1 min) of suspension. The speed with which death may result from hanging not only gives an insight into fatal pathophysiological mechanisms, but also provides useful information for situations where a lethal outcome is to be avoided, or is not intended. For example, individuals at risk of suicide who are being monitored in institutional facilities need to be constantly under direct visual surveillance as significant hypoxia can be rapidly induced, parents and caregivers with infants and children in potentially unsafe sleeping environments need to realize how swiftly death or irreversible anoxic brain damage may occur from neck compression, and those who engage in recreational asphyxia should be informed just how quickly a fatal outcome may ensue.

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    Article: Death caused by cardioinhibitory reflex cardiac arrest--a systematic review of cases.
    Bettina Schrag, Paul Vaucher, Marc D Bollmann, Patrice Mangin
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: Forensic pathologists often refer to the cardioinhibitory reflex cardiac arrest (CiRCA) following short neck trauma as a mechanism of death. We sought via a systematic review of the literature to identify circumstances under which carotid bifurcation stimulation could lead to death. Two independent reviewers selected case studies or reports from Medline, ISI Web of Knowledge, and Embase. Circumstances and contributory factors were extracted for each case. From the available data, authors independently assessed whether CiRCA was highly probable (no alternative explanation possible), probable (alternative explanation possible), or unlikely (alternative explanation highly probable). A narrative approach was used to define circumstances in which CiRCA remained possible. From the 48 published cases evoking CiRCA as a possible cause of death between 1881 and 2009, 28 were most likely to result of other mechanism of death (i.e., cerebral hypoxia due to carotid compression, mechanical asphyxia, myocardial infarction). CiRCA remained possible for 20 cases (including five based on anecdotal evidence only) with only one case with no alternative explanation other than CiRCA. Our findings support the presumption that reflex cardiac arrhythmia due to carotid bifurcation stimulation cannot provoke death alone. Actual state of knowledge suggests CiRCA might be contributory to death in the presence of drug abuse and/or cardiac pathology, often associated with physical and/or mental excitation.
    Forensic science international 10/2010; 207(1-3):77-83. · 2.10 Impact Factor
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Keywords

1 min
 
35-year-old male
 
chances
 
children
 
conceal
 
direct visual surveillance
 
fatal hangings
 
fatal pathophysiological mechanisms
 
institutional facilities
 
irreversible anoxic brain damage
 
lethal anoxia
 
lethal outcome
 
neck compression
 
parents
 
Police investigations
 
recreational asphyxia
 
short time
 
significant hypoxia
 
unconsciousness
 
useful information
 

John D Gilbert