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Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology
Published in: Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology 4/2012

01-12-2012 | Editorial

Autoerotic death: a rare but recurrent entity

Author: Roger W. Byard

Published in: Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology | Issue 4/2012

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Excerpt

Autoerotic death has been defined as accidental death occurring during solitary sexual activity that results from a malfunction or an unexpected effect of a device/material or substance that was being used to augment the experience [1]. Although it has been recognized for over 200 years [2], cases in the literature have previously been mistaken for suicide, and a clear definition was not published until 1991 [3]. While our understanding of this entity has improved, diagnostic difficulties persist and there appears to have been recent changes in epidemiological features in certain communities. …
Literature
1.
Byard RW. Autoerotic death—characteristic features and diagnostic difficulties. J Clin Forensic Med. 1994;1:71–8.PubMedCrossRef
2.
The Marquis de Sade. Justine, or the misfortunes of virtue. New York: Castle Books; 1964. p. 101.
3.
4.
Byard RW, Eitzen DA, James R. Unusual fatal mechanisms in nonasphyxial autoerotic death. Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 2000;21:65–8.PubMedCrossRef
5.
Byard RW, Kostakis C, Pigou PE, Gilbert JD. Volatile substance use in sexual asphyxia. J Clin Forensic Med. 2000;7:26–8.PubMedCrossRef
6.
Shields LB, Hunsaker DM, Hunsaker JC III. Autoerotic asphyxia: part I. Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 2005;26:45–52.PubMedCrossRef
7.
Gilbert J, Jensen L, Byard RW. Further observations on the speed of death in hanging. J Forensic Sci. 2008;53:1204–5.PubMedCrossRef
8.
Byard RW, Bramwell NH. Autoerotic death in females. An underdiagnosed syndrome? Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 1988;9:252–4.PubMedCrossRef
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Byard RW, Hucker SJ, Hazelwood RR. Fatal and near-fatal autoerotic asphyxial episodes in women. Characteristic features based on a review of nine cases. Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 1993;14:70–3.PubMedCrossRef
10.
Byard RW, Hucker SJ, Hazelwood RR. A comparison of typical death scene features in cases of fatal male and female autoerotic asphyxia with a review of the literature. Forensic Sci Int. 1990;48:113–21.PubMedCrossRef
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Byard RW, Botterill P. Autoerotic asphyxial death—accident or suicide? Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 1998;19:377–80.PubMedCrossRef
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Egge MK, Berkowitz CD, Toms C, Sathyavagiswaran L. The choking game. A cause of unintentional strangulation. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2010;26:206–8.PubMedCrossRef
13.
Austin AE, Heath K, Gilbert J, Byard RW. Head impalement—an unusual form of suicide. J Forensic Leg Med. (in press).
14.
Byard RW, Masoumi H, Haas E, Sage M, Krous HF. Could intra-alveolar hemosiderin deposition in adults be used as a marker for previous asphyxial episodes in cases of autoerotic death? J Forensic Sci. 2011;56:627–9.PubMedCrossRef
15.
Burgess AW, Hazelwood RR. Autoerotic asphyxial deaths and social network response. Am J Orthopsychiatry. 1983;53:166–70.PubMedCrossRef
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Byard RW, Winskog C. Autoerotic death: incidence and age of victims—a population based study. J Forensic Sci. 2012;57:129–31.PubMedCrossRef
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Sauvageau A, Geberth VJ. Elderly victim: an unusual autoerotic fatality involving an 87-year-old male. Forensic Sci Med Pathol. 2009;5:233–5.PubMedCrossRef
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Shields LB, Hunsaker DM, Hunsaker JC III, Wetli CV, Hutchins KD, Holmes RM. Atypical autoerotic asphyxia: part II. Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 2005;26:53–62.PubMedCrossRef
Metadata
Title
Autoerotic death: a rare but recurrent entity
Author
Roger W. Byard
Publication date
01-12-2012
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology / Issue 4/2012
Print ISSN: 1547-769X
Electronic ISSN: 1556-2891
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-012-9319-0

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