Salil Sidharth, Joseph James Rajesh, Adiaman Janani
Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Velammal Medical College Hospital & Research Institute, Madurai, IND.
Cureus. 2024 Nov 6;16(11):e73182. doi: 10.7759/cureus.73182. eCollection 2024 Nov.
Carbon monoxide is a potent killer and has a high affinity towards hemoglobin. It forms carboxyhemoglobin, which decreases the oxygen supply to all the vital organs. Thus, it causes multi-organ dysfunction on acute exposure, and its most alluring side effect is a gradual, painless, unaware death. So, it is used as one of the preferred agents of suicide nowadays, especially by the learned population. In India, the number of death cases related to inhalation of carbon monoxide is very high, and it is vastly under-reported. This is a case report of a 35-year-old female who was found dead in the bedroom of her house along with her husband and two daughters. Post-mortem examination of all the deceased revealed signs consistent with poisoning due to inhalation of carbon monoxide gas. An Ultraviolet Spectrometric study performed at the laboratory confirmed the presence of carboxyhemoglobin in the blood. Examination of the scene of the crime concerning this case revealed some findings as to how meticulously this suicide cum homicide was planned by the parents. This case turns out to be a case of filicide suicide, where the parents have committed suicide along with the homicide of their children. The peculiar aspect of this case was that more than one method was used to produce the required asphyxiant, which was newly termed the 'Perissos' suicidal act.
一氧化碳是一种致命杀手，对血红蛋白具有高度亲和力。它会形成碳氧血红蛋白，从而减少对所有重要器官的氧气供应。因此，急性接触一氧化碳会导致多器官功能障碍，其最诱人的副作用是逐渐、无痛、不知不觉地死亡。所以，它如今被用作首选的自杀手段之一，尤其是在有学识的人群中。在印度，与吸入一氧化碳相关的死亡案例数量很高，而且大多未被上报。这是一例关于一名35岁女性的病例报告，她被发现与丈夫和两个女儿一起死在自家卧室里。对所有死者进行的尸检显示出与吸入一氧化碳气体中毒相符的迹象。实验室进行的紫外光谱研究证实血液中存在碳氧血红蛋白。对该案件犯罪现场的勘查揭示了一些关于这起自杀兼他杀是如何被父母精心策划的发现。这起案件结果是一起杀子自杀案，即父母与杀害自己的孩子同时自杀。该案件的独特之处在于使用了不止一种方法来制造所需的窒息剂，这种行为被新命名为“Perissos”自杀行为。
