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Abstract
Since the book “Final Exit: The Practicalities of Self-Deliverance and Assisted Suicide for the Dying” was published in 1991, there has been a worldwide increase in the number of cases of suicidal asphyxiation using helium gas. However, no domestic reports have been published thus far. Recently, we encountered a case of asphyxial suicide by inhalation of helium from inside a plastic bag. Subsequently, we reviewed the records of the Scientific Crime Analysis System of National Police Agency of Korea. There were 17 cases of helium-associated asphyxial suicides between January 1, 2000 and June 30, 2012. The average age of the deceased was 30.6 years with a male to female ratio of approximately 5:1. Thirteen of 17 such deaths occurred in the victims’ houses. In all cases, the method of death involved placing a plastic bag over the head with a hose attached to helium tanks. In 6 of 17 cases, the decedents had psychiatric disorders such as depression. As neither characteristic signs of death nor conventional methods for detecting helium gas exist, a thorough investigation of the death scene and the decedents’ environment is extremely vital for confirming death due to helium asphyxiation.
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Fig. 1.
The case of asphyxiation due to helium inhalation in Jeju 2008. The deceased was found on the bed (a). The tube connected with 22.5 ℓ Helium gas bottle (b). The book “The peaceful pill handbook (Philip Nitschke & Fiona Stewart, 2007) was found on the bed (c). The described part of suicide method using helium in the book (d).
Fig. 2.
The case of asphyxiation due to helium inhalation in car, Seoul 2009. The deceased was found on back seat of car (a). The 2 bottles of helium gases were found on the seat of car (b).
Fig. 3.
The case of asphyxiation due to helium inhalation in Seoul 2011. The deceased was found whose head and trunk fully covered with plastic bag (a). The clear plastic tubing connected the plastic bag to the 2 helium tanks (b).
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