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Hanging disguised as bondage: accidental or suicidal death?

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Abstract

The concept of autoerotic asphyxiation refers to the use of devices or substances intended to enhance one’s arousal by inducing cerebral hypoxia, which can involuntarily lead to death. Although in most cases death occurs accidentally, it is nonetheless true that the same devices might be used by the practitioners in order to attempt suicide. The case of a 34-year-old practitioner of autoerotic asphyxiation found dead in his apartment with bondage-like ligatures and masking is reported here. The case raised some issues concerning the accidental or suicidal nature of the act. The aspects taken into account in the management of the case are discussed, along with a compared approach to the data provided by literature.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE), University of Palermo, Via del Vespro, 129, 90127, Palermo, Italy

    Alberto Alongi, Chiara Stassi, Gennaro Baldino, Antonella Argo & Elvira Ventura Spagnolo

  2. Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, via Consolare Valeria, 1, 98125, Messina, Italy

    Cristina Mondello

Authors
  1. Alberto Alongi
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  2. Chiara Stassi
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  3. Cristina Mondello
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  4. Gennaro Baldino
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  5. Antonella Argo
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  6. Elvira Ventura Spagnolo
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Correspondence to Cristina Mondello.

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Alongi, A., Stassi, C., Mondello, C. et al. Hanging disguised as bondage: accidental or suicidal death?. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 16, 724–727 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-020-00261-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-020-00261-0

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