Suicidal Pattern of Decapitation Injury and Associated Limb Injury in Railway Track Traumas: A Case Series
International Journal of Medical Toxicology and Forensic Medicine,
Vol. 12 No. 3 (2022),
3 August 2022
,
Page 38166
https://doi.org/10.32598/ijmtfm.v12i3.38166
Abstract
Suicide by high-speed railway track trauma with complete decapitation is a rare event; however, it is well known and reported in the scientific literature. The authors analyzed 5 cases of suicide with complete decapitation along with upper limb amputation or severe injury by high-speed mainline train subjected to medico-legal autopsies at the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal between 2019 and 2021. Upper limb injury is considered because of scientific reasons that they have been amputated along with decapitation. Personal, circumstantial, autopsy, and toxicological data and thevictim’s psychical profile were analyzed, and factors like the type of injury, the vital reaction of wound edges, absence of any signs of defense, alcohol, and drug consumption were also considered.
- Decapitation
- Suicide
- Amputation
- Trauma
How to Cite
References
Byard RW, Gilbert JD. Characteristic features of deaths due to decapitation. The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology. 2004; 25:129-30. [DOI:10.1097/01.paf.0000127400.12824.f9] [PMID]
Tsokos M, Türk EE, Uchigasaki S, Püschel K. Pathologic features of suicidal complete decapitations. Forensic Science International. 2004; 139(2-3):95-102. [DOI:10.1016/j.forsciint.2003.09.020] [PMID]
Driever F, Schmidt P, Madea B. About morphological findings in fatalrailway collisions. Forensic Science International. 2002; 126:123-8. [DOI:10.1016/S0379-0738(02)00033-6]
Racette S, Vo TT, Sauvageau A. Suicidal decapitation using a tractor loader: A case report and review of the literature. Journal of Forensic Sciences. 2007; 52:192-4. [DOI:10.1111/j.1556-4029.2006.00312.x] [PMID]
Cina SJ, Koelpin JL, Nichols CA, Conradi SE. A decade of train-pedestrian fatalities: The Charleston experience. Journal of Forensic Sciences. 1994; 39:668-73. [DOI:10.1520/JFS13644J] [PMID]
De Giorgio F, Polacco M, Pascali VL, Oliva A. Death due to railway-relatedsuicidal decapitation: A case report. Medicine, Science and the Law. 2006; 46:347-8. [DOI:10.1258/rsmmsl.46.4.347] [PMID]
Saukko P, Knight B. Railway injuries. In: Saukko P, Knight B, editors. Knight’sForensic Pathology. London: CRC Press; 2004. [DOI:10.1201/b13642]
Cicognani A, Landuzzi F. Incidentiedaltreevenienze di interessemedicolegalein ambitoferroviario. In: Giusti G, editors. Trattato di medicinalegaleescienzeaffini. Padova: Cedam; 1999.
Bahadur kumral, Buyuk Y, Gundogmus U N, Sahin E, Sahin M F. Medico-legal evaluation of deaths due to decapitation. Romanian Journal of Legal Medicine. 2012; 20:251-4. [DOI:10.4323/rjlm.2012.251]
Lin PT, Gill JR. Subway train-related fatalities in New York City: Accident versus suicide. Journal of Forensic Sciences. 2009; 54:1414-8. [DOI:10.1111/j.1556-4029.2009.01165.x] [PMID]
Lerer LB, Matzopoulos RG. Fatal railway injuries in Cape Town, South Africa. The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology. 1997; 18:144-7. [DOI:10.1097/00000433-199706000-00007] [PMID]
Nikolić S, Zivković V. A train-related fatality--old dilemmas: Accident, suicide, or homicide? Premortem or postmortem decapitation? Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology. 2014; 10(2):278-83. [DOI:10.1007/s12024-013-9509-4] [PMID]
Panigrahi H, Das S, Patnaik KK. Circumstances of death and pattern of fatal railway injury. Panacea Journal of Medical Sciences. 2021; 11(2):264-8. [DOI:10.18231/j.pjms.2021.054]
- Abstract Viewed: 594 times
- pdf Downloaded: 690 times