Suicidal asphyxiation by using helium – two

Smędra, Anna; Szustowski, Szymon; Jurczyk, A; Klemm, Joanna; Szram, Stefan; Berent, Jarosław

doi:10.5114/amsik.2015.51605

Cited by 7 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Within 1 year, the local Forensic Medicine Department carried out five medicolegal autopsies of victims who had died due to inhalation of this gas (unpublished data). In the literature, there are reports on similar cases from other parts of this country [3][4][5][6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 93%

“…In addition, the Internet not only facilitates the dissemination of information about easy access to the tools necessary to commit suicide with the use of a noble gas, but also allows the purchase of the equipment such as helium cylinders [14]. In both cases described by Smędra et al [4], the victims prepared to commit suicide using material available on the Internet. A 30-year-old man (case 1) was probably initially planning to take his own life with a gun, but later he began to collect information on alternative methods of suicide.…”

Section: Influence Of Mass Media On Helium Inhalationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The content of the letter suggested that he had found information on suicide by helium asphyxiation on the Internet. Additionally, the man decided to record his death using the webcam built into his laptop [4].…”

Section: Influence Of Mass Media On Helium Inhalationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Asphyxiation by helium can also be used for murder. Cuypers et al [20] presented a case of attempted extended suicide, where the mother had killed three of her children (2,4, and 6 years old), while leaving two older offspring alive (an 11-year-old boy and a second child of unknown age). In the children's room, there were six helium cylinders connected by tubes to plastic bags.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Suicidal deaths due to helium inhalation

2019

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Purpose The authors reviewed the literature paying attention to helium suicide rates, autopsy findings in people exposed to helium, methods of collecting biological material for toxicological tests, and analytical methods used for detection and quantification of helium in the collected specimens. Methods All reviewed information was gathered through a detailed search of Scopus, PubMed and the WorldWide Web using relevant keywords, e.g., helium, asphyxia, and suicide. Results The use of helium for suicidal purposes is becoming an increasingly common phenomenon around the world. This is undoubtedly influenced by the Internet, which explains in detail the technical aspects of the suicidal use of helium and describes the dying process. Exposure to helium does not lead to poisoning; instead, death is caused by asphyxia. Conclusions Deaths due to helium asphyxiation are still a problem for modern forensic toxicology. Most current methods for collecting biological specimens and identifying the gas seem to be insufficient to give definite opinions in cases of helium asphyxiation. More attempts should be made to modify these methods in order to improve and facilitate detection and quantitative determination of helium and other inert gases.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Section: Influence Of Mass Media On Helium Inhalationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Influence Of Mass Media On Helium Inhalationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Suicidal deaths due to helium inhalation

2019

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“…In forensic medicine, concerns about He araised in the last years due to its use as fatal anoxiant in recreative sniffing (to change the timbre of speech when inhaled) [5], but especially in selfadministered and assisted suicides [6][7][8][9][10][11][12]. This method was first recorded in 1990s and described in books and article of right-to-die advocates as "suicide bag method" [13][14][15][16], consisting of a large plastic bag with a drawcord [17] usually used in conjunction with a flow of an inert gas like helium or nitrogen [18,19].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Helium poisoning: new procedure for sampling and analysis

et al. 2019

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An increasing number of suicidal asphyxiation with a plastic bag with inert gases, and in particular helium (He), have been reported from numerous countries over the last decade. These cases are differently managed and lead to different and variable interpretations. Based on the twelve last cases analysed in the laboratory and on the review of the most recent literature about this topic, updated autopsy guidelines for sampling have been proposed regarding to the samples choice and analytical challenges required by the gaseous state of this substance. Biological samples from airways (lungs lobe) followed by brain and cardiac blood are the best matrices to take during the autopsy to diagnose He exposure. Gaseous samples from trachea, pulmonary bronchi, gastric and cardiac areas are also recommended as alternative samples. The anatomical site of sampling must be carefully detailed, and to this end, forensic imaging constitutes a beneficial tool. Even if He detection is sufficient to conclude to He exposure, He concentrations in samples may be related to He exposure conditions (duration, breathing rate, etc.). A quantification in biological samples could be helpful to document more precisely the case. He concentrations in gaseous samples are reported up to 6.0 µmol/mL (tracheal gas), 2.4 µmol/mL (pulmonary gas), 0.64 µmol/mL (cardiac gas) and 12 µmol/mL (gastric gas). He concentrations in solid/liquid samples are reported up to 28 µmol/g (lungs) and 0.03 µmol/g (cardiac blood). The other matrices usually sampled during autopsy such as urine, peripheral blood, liver, fat matter and kidney appear as not relevant.

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Nitrogen inhalation suicide pacts

2019

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Suicide pacts usually result in simultaneous deaths by mutual arrangement. While nitrogen and helium gas inhalation are being increasingly used in solitary suicide attempts, for some reason they have been rarely utilised in suicide pacts. A search of autopsy files at Forensic Science SA over a 15-year period (2003–2017) was undertaken to determine how often this method of joint suicide occurs. Only two cases were found. Case 1 comprised a 64-year-old husband and wife (who had a history of multiple sclerosis). They were found deceased in a vehicle with two empty cylinders of nitrogen gas. Case 2 comprised an 87-year-old man (who had a history of ischaemic heart disease) and his 81-year-old wife who were found deceased with plastic bags over their heads, with plastic tubes connecting the bags to opened cylinders of nitrogen. The deaths in all cases were due to nitrogen-induced asphyxiation, in the latter instance augmenting plastic-bag asphyxia. Although suicide pacts have previously usually involved carbon-monoxide toxicity or drug overdose, it is possible that dissemination of information on the use of inert gases in individual suicide attempts may alter the methods used in future.

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Suicidal asphyxiation by using helium – two

Cited by 7 publications

References 5 publications

Suicidal deaths due to helium inhalation

Suicidal deaths due to helium inhalation

Helium poisoning: new procedure for sampling and analysis

Nitrogen inhalation suicide pacts

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