ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Published Online: 25 May 2005
Page Count: 2

Suicide by Pencil
Giorgio, FD
Institute of Legal Medicine, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart,

Zoccai, GB
Institute of Cardiology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart,

Martinotti, G
Institute of Psychiatry, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart,

Rainio, J
Institute of Legal Medicine, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart,

Grimaldi, L
Institute of Legal Medicine, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart,

Masullo, M
Institute of Legal Medicine, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart,

(Received 30 November 2004; accepted 27 February 2005)

Abstract

We report an unusual suicide, committed with a common pencil. A 72-year-old male inflicted himself a penetrating thoracic wound while being hospitalized for a hip prosthesis operation. Although the patient was immediately operated, the cardiac injury appeared to be fatal. Cases of suicidal penetrating wounds of the anterior chest wall are rare and they are mostly inflicted by knives, glass fragments, or other sharp instruments. The potential danger of a pencil should be taken into consideration, especially in psychiatric hospitals and imprisonment facilities. We examined the legislation in Italy and Finland concerning the regulation of privacy in special care institutions.

Keywords:
forensic science, suicide, chest wound, pencil wound, cardiac injury

Paper ID: JFS2004496
DOI: 10.1520/JFS2004496
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