Homicidal poisoning by injection of methidathion: The first ever report

Abstract

<jats:p> We present the first ever case of homicidal poisoning due to injection of methidathion, an organophosphate insecticide. Case: A 4-month-old baby presented to the emergency department with chief complaints of unconsciousness and irregular respiration. A bitter odour and an injection site with a greenish blue colouration and two bullaous lesions were noticed by the emergency department physicians. Postmortem examinations revealed a wide shiny blue colouration of the antecubital region with oedematous muscular fascia and focal liquefaction necrosis. Blood and tissue levels were positive for methidathion. Our case report emphasizes the necessity of a detailed crime scene investigation and postmortem examination for the possibility of homicide in such cases. Although injection sites may be the expected results of medical treatment, dermal lesions also may be associated with injections of toxic substances. </jats:p>

Bilateral Loculated Pleural Effusion as a Manifestation of Acute Parenteral Organophosphate Intoxication: A Case Report

“…Although most of the cases reported involving subcutaneous or intramuscular injection of OPs describe significant soft-tissue injury, in our case we did not see any focal manifestations except for ecchymosis on the right antecubital fossa (16,17). The reason may be that she actually injected OP into the vein rather than subcutaneous tissue.…”

A rare case of homicidal insecticide (organochloro compound) poisoning by intraperitoneal injection

“…In the present case, the injection site was observed with surrounding dark, reddish-brown discolouration. On the other hand, injection of methidathion has been reported with a greenish-blue discolouration 13 at the injection site and with injection of Anda Potash (potassium cyanide), blackish discolouration 15 was observed.…”

“…2 Self-poisoning by parenteral injection of organophosphate is also not a very rare event. 3–6 In the literature, cases of homicidal poisoning are still widely reported including administration of strychnine, 7 glibenclamide, 8 ethylene glycol, 9 chloroform, 10 ergotamine, 11 insulin injection, 12 methidathion injection, 13 dichlorvos 14 potassium cyanide injections, 15 succinylcholine injection and arsenic injection. 16 We could not find any case of homicidal organochloro compound (OC) poisoning by the intraperitoneal route.…”

The Fatal Poisoning Pattern of Ankara (Turkey) and Nearby Cities from 2007 to June 2011: A Retrospective Study in Forensic Autopsies

“…Between the years that these two major studies were conducted, there were several other case reports about fatal poisonings which were mainly due to unintentional endosulfan poisoning, fatal methanol ingestion, hydrogen sulfide toxicity in thermal spring, homicidal poisoning, and acute mercury poisoning . One of the very interesting studies about occupational fatalities among coal mine workers in Zonguldak, a Northern city of Turkey, showing one of the most important occupational problems in Turkey between 1994 and 2003 has been reported by Kucuker .…”