Body-packing as cause of unexpected sudden death.
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Body-packing as cause of unexpected sudden death. / Heinemann, A; Miyaishi, S; Iwersen-Bergmann, Stefanie; Schmoldt, A; Püschel, K.
In: FORENSIC SCI INT, Vol. 92, No. 1, 1, 1998, p. 1-10.Research output: SCORING: Contribution to journal › SCORING: Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Body-packing as cause of unexpected sudden death.
AU - Heinemann, A
AU - Miyaishi, S
AU - Iwersen-Bergmann, Stefanie
AU - Schmoldt, A
AU - Püschel, K
PY - 1998
Y1 - 1998
N2 - Four fatalities related to smuggling of drugs by body-packing were investigated. The victims were examined at the Institute of Forensic Medicine of Hamburg University between 1983 and 1995, two of them due to "sudden" unknown cause of death. All victims were male. Two of them were found already dead in a backyard and in a hotel, two other were emergency cases and died at a hospital. Smuggled substances included cocaine (two cases), heroin and amphetamine/caffeine. In all cases, the cause of death was intoxication caused by torn packages which were detected at autopsy. The maximum weight of the packet's contents was 630 g divided in 90 packages. Only one victim was apparently an intravenous drug-abuser. Hair analysis was performed in three cases and revealed in one case a difference between a concealed and a habitually consumed drug. Toxicological analysis revealed that the substances were quite pure and provided evidence that rather long survival was possible following intoxication in three cases, in two cases supported by hospital treatment in the final stage. The procedural regimen in cases of suspected body-packing is discussed.
AB - Four fatalities related to smuggling of drugs by body-packing were investigated. The victims were examined at the Institute of Forensic Medicine of Hamburg University between 1983 and 1995, two of them due to "sudden" unknown cause of death. All victims were male. Two of them were found already dead in a backyard and in a hotel, two other were emergency cases and died at a hospital. Smuggled substances included cocaine (two cases), heroin and amphetamine/caffeine. In all cases, the cause of death was intoxication caused by torn packages which were detected at autopsy. The maximum weight of the packet's contents was 630 g divided in 90 packages. Only one victim was apparently an intravenous drug-abuser. Hair analysis was performed in three cases and revealed in one case a difference between a concealed and a habitually consumed drug. Toxicological analysis revealed that the substances were quite pure and provided evidence that rather long survival was possible following intoxication in three cases, in two cases supported by hospital treatment in the final stage. The procedural regimen in cases of suspected body-packing is discussed.
KW - Adult
KW - Humans
KW - Male
KW - Deception
KW - Autopsy
KW - Cause of Death
KW - Hair/chemistry
KW - Crime
KW - Death, Sudden/etiology/pathology
KW - Drug and Narcotic Control
KW - Foreign Bodies/complications
KW - Intestines
KW - Stomach
KW - Street Drugs/poisoning
KW - Adult
KW - Humans
KW - Male
KW - Deception
KW - Autopsy
KW - Cause of Death
KW - Hair/chemistry
KW - Crime
KW - Death, Sudden/etiology/pathology
KW - Drug and Narcotic Control
KW - Foreign Bodies/complications
KW - Intestines
KW - Stomach
KW - Street Drugs/poisoning
M3 - SCORING: Journal article
VL - 92
SP - 1
EP - 10
JO - FORENSIC SCI INT
JF - FORENSIC SCI INT
SN - 0379-0738
IS - 1
M1 - 1
ER -