Citation

Handlos P, Gebauerová V, Papoušek R, Handlosová K, Dokoupil M, Klabal O, Uvíra M. Leg. Med. (Elsevier) 2022; 57: e102062.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, Japanese Society of Legal Medicine, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.legalmed.2022.102062

PMID

35421833

Abstract

Autoerotic asphyxia is a form of deviant sexual behavior that seeks sexual gratification by means of manipulation with one's own body resulting in asphyxia, and may sometimes turn out to be fatal. Autoerotic fatalities involving autoerotic asphyxia are divided into two groups: "typical" autoerotic fatalities involve mechanical compression of the neck, chest or abdomen, whereas "atypical" autoeroticism involves sexual self-stimulation by other means. Cases where asphyxiophilic behavior is accompanied by volatile substance abuse are reported to be rather rare, but may involve a high risk of fatal results. This paper presents a case of accidental "atypical" autoeroticism involving victim's abuse of toluene, which, combined with asphyxiophilic airway occlusion, led to death. For the sake of comprehensiveness, both a verbal description and a schematic representation of the major metabolic pathways of acute and chronic abuse metabolic markers is provided.

Language: en

Keywords

Intoxication; Autoerotic asphyxia; Autoerotic death; Death scene investigation; Toluene; Volatile substances