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Suicidal or Homicidal Sharp Force Injuries? A Review and Critical Analysis of the Heterogeneity in the Forensic Literature
Author(s) -
DeGiorgio Fabio,
Lodise Maria,
Quaranta Gianluigi,
Spagnolo Antonio G.,
d'Aloja Ernesto,
Pascali Vincenzo L.,
Grassi Vincenzo M.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of forensic sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.715
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1556-4029
pISSN - 0022-1198
DOI - 10.1111/1556-4029.12673
Subject(s) - poison control , injury prevention , checklist , human factors and ergonomics , homicide , suicide prevention , forensic pathology , manner of death , occupational safety and health , medicine , forensic science , forensic engineering , medical emergency , autopsy , psychology , engineering , pathology , veterinary medicine , cognitive psychology
The differential diagnosis between self‐inflicted and nonself‐inflicted, suicidal and homicidal, injuries is difficult or impossible in many cases and, above all, cannot be made on the basis of information obtained solely from the autopsy or the medicolegal clinical examination. The purpose of this study is to analyze the literature on suicidal and homicidal sharp force injuries and identify the relevant parameters that may help differentiate between suicidal and homicidal deaths. To achieve this goal, a review of 595 potentially relevant articles was performed. After excluding the nonrelevant papers by screening the titles, all abstracts were reviewed, and articles meeting the inclusion criteria underwent a full‐text review. The following parameters were compiled into a table: number of cases, localization of the injuries, and number of injuries. The data were statistically analyzed and compared with those available in the forensic literature. On the basis of the heterogeneity of data revealed by the present review, a simple and short checklist of the parameters that should be included when reporting suicides and homicides by sharp force has been proposed.