Citation

Aparici I, Byard RW. Med. Sci. Law 2019; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Forensic Science SA and School of Medicine, The University of Adelaide, Australia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, British Academy of Forensic Sciences, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0025802419871216

PMID

31462150

Abstract

A retrospective review was undertaken of 287 unnatural deaths undergoing medicolegal investigation over a 10-year period from January 2008 to December 2017 in Rio Grande, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. There were 219 males and 68 females, age range 7 months to 88 years (average 38.4 years). The 135 accidental deaths (47%) were due mainly to vehicle crashes (N = 62) and carbon monoxide toxicity from fires (N = 31). The 115 cases of suicides (40.1%) were predominantly due to hanging (N = 75) and gunshot wounds (N = 20). The 37 cases of homicide (12.9%) were mainly due to stabbing/sharp force injury (N = 20) and blunt force trauma (N = 9). Carbon monoxide toxicity from faulty heating accounted for a substantial percentage (8.1%) of the accidental deaths. Firearm homicides and suicides related to drug toxicity and carbon monoxide inhalation were relatively uncommon medicolegal cases in this centre.

Keywords Accident, suicide, homicide, unnatural death, Tierra del Fuego

Language: en

Keywords

Accident; Tierra del Fuego; homicide; suicide; unnatural death