Fatal strangulation during consensual BDSM activity: three case reports

Bauer, Kristina; Schön, Corinna A.; Jackowski, Christian

doi:10.1007/s00414-020-02449-z

Cited by 10 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…In two cases, the BDSM practitioners instructed their partners about breath control play and taught cardiopulmonary resuscitation before carrying out BDSM activities [ 9 , 10 ]. In two of these cases, the partners were dominatrices and the decedents were not new to BDSM activities [ 6 ]. In one of the nine cases, the deceased instructed his partner with a manual and pictures on the breath play; however, no safeword was agreed upon.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In four cases, the deceased and their partner have been meeting up for BDSM activities for some time. In two cases, the deceased were clients of dominatrices; in both cases, it was not the first meeting between the client and the dominatrix [ 6 ]. In one case, the deceased was a prostitute.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Mostly, there are no other witnesses than the probably shocked sexual partner who is not able or does not want to give a detailed explanation of the situation. Statements of the present participant(s) can be inexact or contradictory due to emotional stress after witnessing the other person’s death [ 6 ]. Also, incorrect shame-associated statements from relatives about the deceased’s sexual behavior or interest in BDSM can lead to wrong conclusions [ 8 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…They classify asphyxia into four categories: strangulation, suffocation, mechanical asphyxia, and drowning. The definitions of terms, based on Sauvageau and Boghossian [ 7 ] and Bauer et al [ 6 ], are clarified in Table 1 .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A recently published case collection described three cases of fatal incidents related to consensual BDSM activity [ 6 ]. These non-natural deaths associated with BDSM activity raised several questions concerning the topic: How frequent is a fatal outcome in BDSM play?…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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How safe is BDSM? A literature review on fatal outcome in BDSM play

2021

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A noteworthy number of people are interested in BDSM (bondage and discipline, dominance and submission, sadism, and masochism). Fatal outcomes while participating in BDSM activities occur. The aim of this literature review is to give a better insight into potential dangerous BDSM play by summarizing published data on BDSM fatalities. A literature search was conducted. It was searched for non-natural death related to BDSM activity. Seventeen cases were found. The age of the deceased ranged between 23 and 49 years (mean age 34.9 years). Strangulation in the course of erotic asphyxiation was the most common cause of death (88.2%). In 13 cases, a toxicology report for the deceased was mentioned, of which in eight cases (61.5%) toxicology analysis was positive. In four of these cases, the BDSM partner was also tested positive with the same substance. Drugs or alcohol was involved in 64.3% of fatal BDSM play. In nine cases, the level of experience in BDMS activity of the deceased and the partner was described, and in all of them, the deceased and the partner were not new to BDSM play. Fatal outcomes of BDSM plays are rarer than autoerotic fatalities and natural deaths related to sexual activities. Safeguards and education on medical aspects exist in the BDSM communities. If they are followed by the practitioners, the risks of BDMS play can be reduced. Cases of non-natural death connected to BDSM are rare incidents and can be prevented.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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How safe is BDSM? A literature review on fatal outcome in BDSM play

2021

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Approach considerations for the management of strangulation in the emergency department

et al. 2022

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The correlation between sadomasochists' experience and their sadomasochistic behaviors and fantasies: A qualitative analysis of interviews

Liang,

Zhang

2023

PsyCh Journal

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Lacking a comprehensive understanding of sadomasochism makes difficulties in judicial dispositions, clinical interventions, and mental health services. This study explores the correlation between sadomasochists' growth experience and their sadomasochistic behaviors and fantasies. We interviewed 51 sadomasochists from a Chinese subcultural website, coded and analyzed the interview records, conducted correlation and cluster analyses on the reference points of the nodes of impressive experience and sadomasochistic behaviors and fantasies, and constructed the model of Experience—Behaviors and Fantasies. We found that sadomasochists' typical impressive experiences are family parenting and sexual experience; sadomasochistic behaviors and fantasies can be classified into five categories: spirit, punishment, sex, canine, and excretion; and sadomasochistic behaviors and fantasies are partially correlated with sadomasochists' impressive experiences, indicating psychoanalytic theory is the leading theory for the driving processes of sadomasochism, while behaviorist and Gestalt theories also contribute.

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Fatal strangulation during consensual BDSM activity: three case reports

Cited by 10 publications

References 43 publications

How safe is BDSM? A literature review on fatal outcome in BDSM play

How safe is BDSM? A literature review on fatal outcome in BDSM play

Approach considerations for the management of strangulation in the emergency department

The correlation between sadomasochists' experience and their sadomasochistic behaviors and fantasies: A qualitative analysis of interviews

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