Citation

Avis SP, Archibald JT. J. Forensic Sci. 1994; 39(1): 253-256.

Affiliation

Department of Pathology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Canada.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1994, American Society for Testing and Materials, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

8113705

Abstract

A 26-year-old male committed suicide by inducing asphyxia using a combination of plastic bag suffocation and propane-gas inhalation. This method has been reported in the literature, but it remains unusual. Autopsy findings were consistent with a hypoxic event, and blood, brain, and lung tissue tested positive for propane by gas chromatography. Propane, while possessing some narcotic properties, causes death primarily by displacing oxygen in the atmosphere with resultant asphyxia.

Language: en