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Open Access 20-11-2023 | Sudden Cardiac Death | Review

Philemon and Baucis death: a literature review

Authors: Lukas Sottmann, Andreas Schmeling

Published in: International Journal of Legal Medicine

Abstract

Double death, i.e., two bodies at a scene, is relatively rare. The double death from natural causes of two close persons is called Philemon and Baucis death in the medicolegal literature. Despite being mentioned for the first time more than 50 years ago, all detailed case reports on this case constellation are from the last 15 years. A comprehensive review of the literature on this phenomenon has not yet been published. In this article, we review the available literature on Philemon and Baucis death. Pathophysiologically, it can be assumed that this phenomenon is a sub-form of so-called psychogenic death. Therefore, we equally review the literature on sudden cardiac death due to acute psychological stress.

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Title: Philemon and Baucis death: a literature review
Authors: Lukas Sottmann
Andreas Schmeling
Publication date: 20-11-2023
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keyword: Sudden Cardiac Death
Published in: International Journal of Legal Medicine
Print ISSN: 0937-9827
Electronic ISSN: 1437-1596
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-023-03126-7

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