Shkrum M J, Johnston K A
Department of Pathology, Victoria Hospital, London, Ontario, Canada.
J Forensic Sci. 1992 Jan;37(1):208-21.
Thirty-two self-immolation deaths by fire, representing about 1% of suicides, occurred in the province of Ontario (population 9 million), Canada, from 1986 through 1988. The victims, mostly male (male/female ratio, 26:6), were between 21 and 71 years old (mean age, 38 years). Although the scene of self-immolation was usually familiar to the deceased, some chose remote locations. Eleven were found dead in motor vehicles. An accelerant, usually gasoline, was used in most cases. Many of these individuals had, at some time, indicated their intent to commit suicide, a few by self-immolation, but only about half had a diagnosed psychiatric illness. Most of the victims had a reason to kill themselves, but the factors that motivated them to chose self-immolation by fire were uncertain. Fourteen individuals died in hospitals from severe burn complications. The remainder were found dead at the scene. The postmortem findings of soot in the airway and elevated carbon monoxide in the blood of most of these victims [the carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) concentration was in one case less than 10%, in ten cases greater than or equal to 10 to 50%, and in seven cases greater than 50%] were helpful in determining that the individuals were not only alive at the time of the fire but also that a significant number died from smoke inhalation and carbon monoxide poisoning. The highest levels of carbon monoxide were observed in victims discovered in motor vehicles.
1986年至1988年期间，加拿大安大略省（人口900万）发生了32起自焚死亡事件，约占自杀事件的1%。受害者大多为男性（男女比例为26:6），年龄在21岁至71岁之间（平均年龄38岁）。尽管自焚现场通常是死者熟悉的地方，但有些人选择了偏远地点。11人被发现死于机动车内。大多数情况下使用了助燃剂，通常是汽油。这些人中许多人曾在某些时候表示过自杀意图，少数人打算自焚，但只有约一半人被诊断患有精神疾病。大多数受害者都有自杀的理由，但促使他们选择自焚的因素尚不确定。14人因严重烧伤并发症在医院死亡。其余人被发现死于现场。这些受害者中大多数人的气道中有烟灰且血液中一氧化碳含量升高（一例碳氧血红蛋白（COHb）浓度低于10%，十例浓度大于或等于10%至50%，七例浓度大于50%），这有助于确定这些人不仅在火灾发生时还活着，而且相当一部分人死于吸入烟雾和一氧化碳中毒。在机动车内发现的受害者中观察到一氧化碳含量最高。
