Citation

Muccino E, Crudele GDL, Gentile G, Marchesi M, Rancati A, Zoja R. Int. J. Legal Med. 2014; 129(4): 777-784.

Affiliation

Sezione di Medicina Legale e delle Assicurazioni - Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Luigi Mangiagalli 37, 20133, Milano, Italy.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s00414-014-1115-9

PMID

25398634

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: A cadaver in water sets a relevant issue for the forensic pathologist, concerning the differential diagnosis between homicide, suicide, accidental event, and natural death in water. In the present study, the drowning suicides in a non-coastal territory are analyzed, discussing the main diagnostic difficulties, the preventive intervention, and the strategies for outlining the profile of a "mean victim" that is at risk of committing suicide by drowning.

METHODS: The cases of drowning suicide were extrapolated by the database of the 21,472 autopsies performed at the Civic Morgue of Milan, in the period between 1993 and 2013.

RESULTS: Drowning represents the fifth cause of suicide registered in Milan for the study period, with 139 cases (3.8 % of all suicides). Victims were mainly elderly males (61-80 years old) with a history of psychiatric diseases in pharmacological therapy; they committed suicide mainly during summer, in the rivers. The diatoms test was positive in 82 cases (59 %) and highlighted typical taxa of fresh water. Alcohol and illicit drugs were not noticed, at high levels.

CONCLUSION: Drowning suicide occurs even in a non-coastal territory, far from the sea, if there is an easy access to the water: specifically, many natural and artificial waterways in the Milan district represent a high-risk factor predisposing the drowning suicide.

Language: en