Citation

Mahowald MW, Schenck CH, Goldner M, Bachelder V, Cramer-Bornemann M. J. Forensic Sci. 2003; 48(5): 1158-1162.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, American Society for Testing and Materials, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

14535686

Abstract

Complex behaviors arising from the sleep period may result in violent or injurious consequences, even death. Those resulting in death may be erroneously deemed suicides. A series of case examples and review of the pertinent literature are provided to increase awareness of the possibility that some apparent "suicides" are the unfortunate, but unintentional, consequence of sleep-related complex behaviors and therefore are without premeditation, conscious awareness, or personal responsibility. The correct cause-of-death determination in such cases may have profound social, religious, and insurance implications for surviving friends and family members.

Language: en

Keywords

Adult; Aged; Dreams; Glass; Humans; Male; Parasomnias; Sleep Deprivation; Somnambulism; Suicide; Wounds and Injuries