Fatal hemorrhage from an undiagnosed rectal carcinoma in a case of Diogenes syndrome

Excerpt

A 61-year-old male was found dead at his home address after a strong putrefactive odor was noted. The decedent was lying on a couch, with his underpants pulled down to his knees, and a blood stained towel located beneath his buttocks. A large amount of blood had dried over his exposed groin region and thighs. Inspection of the house revealed blood-stained towels, underwear, and newspaper pages strewn on the floor in various rooms, with trails of blood droplets on the floor in the hallways and in various rooms. Several chairs had blood stained impressions where he had been sitting (Fig. 1). The toilet bowl and seat were also covered in blood. The house was noted to be quite untidy with rotting food and empty drink and take-away food containers throughout.

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