@article{ref1,
title="Complex suicides: 21 cases and a review of the literature",
journal="Egyptian journal of forensic sciences",
year="2022",
author="Hösükler, E. and Hosukler, B. and Çoban, İ. and Koc, S.",
volume="12",
number="1",
pages="-",
abstract="BACKGROUND: The use of more than one potentially lethal method together and sequentially to complete suicide is called &quot;complex suicide.&quot; Complex suicides are divided into two groups: planned and unplanned. This study aimed to discuss with literature 21 complex suicide cases identified after a 2-year retrospective study. <br><br>RESULTS: This study included 21 complex suicide cases. Eleven were classified as planned complex suicides, and 10 were labeled as unplanned complex suicides. The average age of all cases was 42.5 ± 17.7 (min: 19, max: 76) years. Suicide notes were present in six (28.5%) cases. Fifteen victims (71.4%) suffered from psychiatric diseases. Twelve victims ingested a toxic dose of medication, nine cases jumped from a height, eight cases used stabbing, six cases used hanging, two cases ingested a corrosive substance, two cases drowned, two cases inhaled a toxic gas, one case ingested cyanide, one case ingested insecticide, and one case used suffocation with a plastic bag. In two cases, three methods of suicide were used together. In the current study, &quot;corrosive substance intake + cyanide intoxication&quot; and &quot;corrosive substance intake + jumping from a height&quot; were defined for the first time and have not been previously described in the literature. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Complex suicides are highly likely to be potentially mistaken for murder. The cause of death in these cases can be determined with a comprehensive autopsy along with a detailed examination of the scene, statements of relatives, and eyewitnesses. © 2022, The Author(s).<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="2090-536X",
doi="10.1186/s41935-022-00269-3",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s41935-022-00269-3"
}