Citation

Alunni-Perret V, Colonna P, Wolkiewiez J, Quatrehomme G. J. Med. Leg. Droit Med. 2003; 46(4-5): 313-317.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, Masson)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to underline the potential difficulties of diagnosis in some autoerotic fatalities. Autoerotic deaths are the result of asphyxia more often caused by a mechanical compression. But other atypical autoerotic fatalities involve the use of drugs or gases. We have reported here two cases of autoerotic deaths quite different in their presentation. The first case is a typical autoerotic death, while the second is more unusual because ether was probably used to induce hypoxia. Because of the wide variety of autoerotic fatalities and a lack of knowledge on the part of the professionals about these activities, the manner of death is often initially misinterpreted as suicide or homicide.

Language: fr

Keywords

Accident; Forensic science; Autoerotic asphyxia; Ether; Paraphilia