Accidental ligature strangulation deaths in East Delhi (India)

Med Sci Law. 2005 Jan;45(1):47-51. doi: 10.1258/rsmmsl.45.1.47.

Abstract

Ligature strangulations are usually homicidal. Accidental cases are quite uncommon, especially among adults. A retrospective ten-year study conducted in East Delhi revealed that in a total of 98 cases of death due to strangulation, five cases (approximately 5%) among all medico-legal deaths were of fatal ligature strangulation, involving adults who were neither intoxicated nor indulging in paraphiliac activity. The causative agent in three cases was a cycle rickshaw, in one case it was a rotatory part of a machine, and the fifth case occurred due to entanglement while tying up a cow. The cases and their autopsy findings have been described in this paper, together with the review and preventive aspects of such cases.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Accidents*
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Asphyxia / etiology*
  • Clothing
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Humans
  • India
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Transportation