Citation

Franchitto N, Faurie C, Franchitto L, Minville V, Telmon N, Rougé D. J. Forensic Sci. 2011; 56(3): 638-642.

Affiliation

Department of Legal Medicine, Toulouse-Rangueil University Hospital, 1 Avenue Jean Poulhès, 31059 Toulouse, France. Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Burn Center, Toulouse-Rangueil University Hospital, 1 Avenue Jean Poulhès, 31059 Toulouse, France. University Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, La Grave-Casselardit University Hospital, Place Lange, 31059 Toulouse, France.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, American Society for Testing and Materials, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1556-4029.2011.01706.x

PMID

21361934

Abstract

  Self-inflicted burns are rare in France, but they lead to major, often life-threatening complications. The authors reviewed medical data for patients hospitalized in a burn center from January 2004 to December 2008. Thirty-eight cases of self-inflicted burns were compared with 220 accidental burns. Women were predominantly affected (57.9%, n = 22). A psychiatric history (71%, n = 27) was more frequent in this population. The mean age of the victims was 38 years. The leading method of suicide was flame (94%, n = 36) associated with gasoline used as an accelerant (77.7%, n = 28). Mean total burn surface area (41.5%) and mortality (36.9%) were higher in the self-inflicted burn population. By recognizing epidemiological characteristics and patients at risk, we can better classify lesions related to self-immolation. It is important for the forensic physician to consult survival details to correlate these data with the results of autopsy.

Language: en