Skip to main content
Top
Published in: Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology 1/2016

01-03-2016 | Editorial

The features and complexities of coincident deaths

Author: Roger W. Byard

Published in: Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology | Issue 1/2016

Login to get access

Excerpt

When two (or more) individuals are found unexpectedly deceased at the same location a number of scenarios are possible, ranging from accidents and natural diseases, to suicides or homicides. Accidents may result in multiple simultaneous fatalities from the actions of a lethal environmental agent. Examples include carbon monoxide leaking from a defective heating or cooking device in the home environment, or methane in industrial environments such as mines, wheat silos or sewers [1]. Double deaths have resulted from misadventures with illicit drugs, or in rare cases of sexual asphyxia. Disaster victim management exercises may be required for deaths from natural events such as earthquakes or tsunamis, or from accidents involving vehicle crashes or house fires [2]. …
Literature
1.
go back to reference Byard RW, Wilson GW. Death scene gas analysis in suspected methane asphyxia. Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 1992;13:69–71.CrossRefPubMed Byard RW, Wilson GW. Death scene gas analysis in suspected methane asphyxia. Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 1992;13:69–71.CrossRefPubMed
2.
go back to reference Byard RW, Winskog C. Potential problems arising during international disaster victim identification exercises. Forensic Sci Med Pathol. 2010;6:1–2.CrossRefPubMed Byard RW, Winskog C. Potential problems arising during international disaster victim identification exercises. Forensic Sci Med Pathol. 2010;6:1–2.CrossRefPubMed
3.
go back to reference Byard RW. Incapacitation or death of a socially isolated parent or carer may result in the death of dependent children. J Paediatr Child Health. 2002;23:417–8.CrossRef Byard RW. Incapacitation or death of a socially isolated parent or carer may result in the death of dependent children. J Paediatr Child Health. 2002;23:417–8.CrossRef
4.
go back to reference Milroy CM. The epidemiology of homicide-suicide (dyadic death). Forensic Sci Int. 1995;71:117–22.CrossRefPubMed Milroy CM. The epidemiology of homicide-suicide (dyadic death). Forensic Sci Int. 1995;71:117–22.CrossRefPubMed
5.
6.
7.
go back to reference Byard RW, Knight D, James RA, Gilbert J. Murder-suicides involving children—a 29 year study. Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 1999;20:323–7.CrossRefPubMed Byard RW, Knight D, James RA, Gilbert J. Murder-suicides involving children—a 29 year study. Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 1999;20:323–7.CrossRefPubMed
8.
go back to reference Byard RW. Murder-suicide—an overview. In: Tsokos M, editor. Forensic pathology reviews, vol. 3. Totowa, NJ: Humana Press; 2005. p. 337–47.CrossRef Byard RW. Murder-suicide—an overview. In: Tsokos M, editor. Forensic pathology reviews, vol. 3. Totowa, NJ: Humana Press; 2005. p. 337–47.CrossRef
9.
go back to reference Byard RW, Veldhoen D, Kobus H, Heath K. ‘Murder-suicide’ or ‘murder-accident’? Difficulties with the analysis of cases. J Forensic Sci. 2010;55:1375–7.CrossRefPubMed Byard RW, Veldhoen D, Kobus H, Heath K. ‘Murder-suicide’ or ‘murder-accident’? Difficulties with the analysis of cases. J Forensic Sci. 2010;55:1375–7.CrossRefPubMed
10.
go back to reference Brown M, Barraclough B. Partners in life and in death: the suicide pact in England and Wales 1988–1992. Psychol Med. 1999;29:1299–306.CrossRefPubMed Brown M, Barraclough B. Partners in life and in death: the suicide pact in England and Wales 1988–1992. Psychol Med. 1999;29:1299–306.CrossRefPubMed
11.
go back to reference Fishbain DA, Aldrich TE. Suicide pacts: international comparisons. J Clin Psychiatry. 1985;46:11–5.PubMed Fishbain DA, Aldrich TE. Suicide pacts: international comparisons. J Clin Psychiatry. 1985;46:11–5.PubMed
12.
go back to reference Austin AE, van den Heuvel C, Byard RW. Suicide in forensic practice—an Australian perspective. Aust J Forensic Sci. 2011;43:65–76.CrossRef Austin AE, van den Heuvel C, Byard RW. Suicide in forensic practice—an Australian perspective. Aust J Forensic Sci. 2011;43:65–76.CrossRef
13.
go back to reference Byard RW, Heath KJ. Suicide notes, age and the impact of suicide guides. Scand J Forensic Sci. 2007;13:10–1. Byard RW, Heath KJ. Suicide notes, age and the impact of suicide guides. Scand J Forensic Sci. 2007;13:10–1.
14.
go back to reference Byard RW, Hanson K, James RA, Gilbert JD. Suicide methods in the elderly in South Australia 1981–2000. J Clin Forensic Med. 2004;11:71–4.CrossRefPubMed Byard RW, Hanson K, James RA, Gilbert JD. Suicide methods in the elderly in South Australia 1981–2000. J Clin Forensic Med. 2004;11:71–4.CrossRefPubMed
15.
go back to reference Jensen LJ, Byard RW. Coincident deaths—double suicide or murder-suicide? Med Sci Law. 2009;49:27–32.CrossRefPubMed Jensen LJ, Byard RW. Coincident deaths—double suicide or murder-suicide? Med Sci Law. 2009;49:27–32.CrossRefPubMed
16.
go back to reference Thompson RL, Manders WW, Cowan WR. Postmortem findings of the victims of the Jonestown tragedy. J Forensic Sci. 1987;32:433–43.CrossRefPubMed Thompson RL, Manders WW, Cowan WR. Postmortem findings of the victims of the Jonestown tragedy. J Forensic Sci. 1987;32:433–43.CrossRefPubMed
Metadata
Title
The features and complexities of coincident deaths
Author
Roger W. Byard
Publication date
01-03-2016
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology / Issue 1/2016
Print ISSN: 1547-769X
Electronic ISSN: 1556-2891
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-014-9587-y

Other articles of this Issue 1/2016

Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology 1/2016 Go to the issue