Citation

Le Garff E, Delannoy Y, Mesli V, Allorge D, Hédouin V, Tournel G. Am. J. Forensic Med. Pathol. 2016; 37(3): 194-197.

Affiliation

From the *Service de Médecine Légale, UTML (EA 7367), and †Laboratoire de Toxicologie, Univ Lille, CHU Lille, Lille, France.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/PAF.0000000000000241

PMID

27367575

Abstract

Cyanide is a product that is known for its use in industrial or laboratory processes, as well as for intentional intoxication. The toxicity of cyanide is well described in humans with rapid inhibition of cellular aerobic metabolism after ingestion or inhalation, leading to severe clinical effects that are frequently lethal. We report the case of a young white man found dead in a hotel room after self-poisoning with cyanide ordered in the deep Web. This case shows a probable complex suicide kit use including cyanide, as a lethal tool, and dextromethorphan, as a sedative and anxiolytic substance. This case is an original example of the emerging deep Web shopping in illegal drug procurement.

SafetyLit note: It appears that the author has confused the term 'deep web' with the 'dark web'. This is an important distinction. The deep web is a technical term (coined by Michael Berman) that refers to that portion of the World Wide Web where the contents are not indexed by standard search engines for any reason. The deep web is opposite to the surface web. The deep web includes many very common uses of the internet such as web mail, company or government records and files, cloud storage, online banking and services accessed via a paywall such as video on demand, subscription news or database sites, etc

Media outlets began to use the term 'deep web' synonymously with the 'dark web' or 'darknet' during time of the Silk Road criminal controversy; and consequently is an ongoing source of confusion. Statements that a majority of the internet or the web is hidden are true because there are many legitimate reasons (some listed above) why the information is unavailable to the general public. There is a part of the web that remains hidden and anonymous. It can be and is used for criminal purposes. It is also used be dissidents within the control of oppressive governments as a way to avoid identification when they view or transmit information.

Language: en