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A man in his 60 s, who had experienced sustained abdominal pain intermittently for three years, lost consciousness and was transferred to an emergency hospital, where he was pronounced dead. In the forensic autopsy, a giant bladder stone measuring 6.5 × 6.0 × 4.0 cm was found adhering to an aluminum eyeliner that penetrated the anterior wall of his rectum. This might have induced pyelonephritis in the left kidney, resulting in sepsis. The deceased may have inserted the eyeliner for sexual stimulation. However, the eyeliner did not injure the peritoneum and no peritonitis occurred, which probably prevented acute sepsis immediately after insertion. The exact time of penetration was undetermined; however, the rectal foreign body may have been retained for three years. This case suggests that sexual activity should be considered a possible manner of death, even if it took place several years previously.

The article argues that the U.S. Supreme Court should resolve the current circuit court split in favor of the Second and Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals' treatment of autoerotic asphyxiation as a non-self-inflicted injury. Topics include a primer on autoerotic aphyxiation, a summary of federal court cases that comprise the circuit split between the Second, Ninth and Seventh Circuits, and issues on the right to privacy and protection of autoerotic asphyxiation under the Fourteenth Amendment.

The purpose of this clinical report is to present our surgery approach combined to the preoperative embolization and the follow-up management of a patient with a Juvenile Nasopharyngeal Angiofibroma (JNA). JNA is a relatively uncommon vascular benign neoplasm that affects almost exclusively adolescent males and represents 0.05% of all head and neck tumors with an incidence of 1:150,000. We present a case of a nineteen-year-old patient with severe and recurrent episodes of epistaxis in the last months. Nasal endoscopy showed a vascularized neoformation that obliterate the right posterior nasal cavity and rhinopharinx. A skull computed tomography (CT) study with contrast medium showed a three centimeters soft tissue mass within the right posterior nasal cavity with extension to the homolateral pterygopalatine fossa and adjacent sphenoid sinus; a little forward bowing of the posterior wall of the right maxilla (Holman–Miller sign) was reported. An angiographic exam was performed, in the same time, was carried out an embolization of intense vascular supply of the mass. We decided to perform an endoscopic approach supported by neuronavigated computed tomography to remove the mass. The advance in the endoscopic surgery approach in cases of such complexity with the support of a neuronavigation system and the possibility to perform a pre-operatory embolization lead to a change in the management of JNA now may be considered for endoscopic sinus-surgery removal.

Autoerotic asphyxia is defined as a self-induced cerebral anoxia in an autoerotic context. This practice is used to induce a state of hypoxia to elicit or enhance sexual excitement and orgasm. Autoerotic deaths are very rare events and include different mechanism such as asphyxia by hanging, ligature or electrocution, overdressing wrapping and more. According to the literature, male subjects are reported as the main victims of these events. In this paper we describe an interesting case of a 54-year-old Italian man, who accidentally deceased by placing a hemp rope around his neck during autoerotic asphyxial activities. The rope examination revealed an interesting safety mechanism: a means to adjust its diameter through a supplementary rope.

Autoerotic asphyxial deaths are a rare but recurring phenomenon, the most common modality of which involves neck compression. Autoerotic neck compression can involve any compression to the neck during individual sexual activity performed to heighten arousal. This retrospective study examines 72 such deaths occurring in Australia between 2000 and 2022. The study aims to provide detailed medico-legal interpretation of such deaths and recommendations for investigation within Australian contexts, and globally. Demographic analysis reveals a predominance of Caucasian males under 50 years of age, with diverse employment and health status. Pathological examination uncovers a spectrum of injuries, from superficial abrasions to rare skeletal and cartilaginous injuries, providing insights into the mechanics and characteristics of these fatalities. Contextual examination highlights sexual paraphernalia, evidence of genital stimulation, and isolation are consistent features in most autoerotic deaths within the sample. There was a wide variety of tool usage (ropes, belts, etc.), and geo-temporal features associated with autoerotic neck compression. The study provides comprehensive examination of the circumstances and characteristics of autoerotic neck compression which may assist in differentiation between suicidal and homicidal neck compression deaths such as hanging or ligature strangulation respectively. This study is an Australian first and is the first study of autoerotic asphyxial deaths to focus solely on deaths with a neck compression component. The study incorporates new variables and suggests ways these should be considered in future death investigations. The authors argue for delineation and subcategorization of autoerotic neck compression from other autoerotic asphyxial death due to their distinct injury characteristics and mechanism of injury., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare. All authors work and study at the University of Melbourne and are not employed in any capacity that could impact this article. The article was funded by the PhD Candidate Budget which is given to every post graduate research student at the University of Melbourne., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Autoerotic asphyxia is defined as a self-induced cerebral anoxia in an autoerotic context. This practice is used to induce a state of hypoxia to elicit or enhance sexual excitement and orgasm. Autoerotic deaths are very rare events and include different mechanism such as asphyxia by hanging, ligature or electrocution, overdressing wrapping and more. According to the literature, male subjects are reported as the main victims of these events. In this paper we describe an interesting case of a 54-year-old Italian man, who accidentally deceased by placing a hemp rope around his neck during autoerotic asphyxial activities. The rope examination revealed an interesting safety mechanism: a means to adjust its diameter through a supplementary rope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses issues on accidental-death analysis in the U.S. by discussing whether autoerotic asphyxiation deaths were done in purpose to collect accidental death insurance. Other topics include why the Seventh Circuit's change to the federal common law's accidental-death test in the case Tran v. Minnesota Life Insurance Co. was wrong, and why the subjective/objective intentions approach used in the case Wickman v. Northwestern National Insurance Co. was the proper test.

Autoerotic death, as a subtype of mechanical asphyxia, refers to a person's fatal outcome while engaging in solitary sexual activity using various devices and methods to reduce oxygen supply and induce cerebral hypoxia, leading to increased sexual gratification. These asphyxial deaths are accidental and sporadic. In cases of sexual asphyxia, especially when strangulation methods such as hanging or ligature are used, thorough crime scene investigation is crucial to determine the type of asphyxia and the manner of death. Inadequate information about specific crime scene findings can lead to significant errors in determining the manner of death and the type of strangulation, potentially leading to cases being mistaken for ligature strangulation in a homicidal manner or hanging in a suicidal manner., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Kiryakova et al.)

The concept of autoerotic asphyxiation refers to the use of devices or substances intended to enhance one's arousal by inducing cerebral hypoxia, which can involuntarily lead to death. Although in most cases death occurs accidentally, it is nonetheless true that the same devices might be used by the practitioners in order to attempt suicide. The case of a 34-year-old practitioner of autoerotic asphyxiation found dead in his apartment with bondage-like ligatures and masking is reported here. The case raised some issues concerning the accidental or suicidal nature of the act. The aspects taken into account in the management of the case are discussed, along with a compared approach to the data provided by literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe the sudden death of a middle-aged man while having a sauna under the influence of α-pyrrolidinovalerophenone (α-PVP) (PM blood concentration: 0.8 mg/L), amphetamine (0.34 mg/L), and other drugs (buprenorphine, benzodiazepines), and engaging in solitary sexual activities. The drugs' effects on the cardio-circulatory system and on body thermoregulation combined with the high temperatures are likely to have been central mechanisms leading to death. The high levels of adrenaline triggered by sexual arousal and the respiratory depression caused by buprenorphine, in association with benzodiazepines, may have also contributed to his death. This previously unreported type of accidental autoerotic death illustrates the risk of using amphetamine-like sympathomimetic drugs (e.g. cathinone derivates) in hot environments such as a sauna, and during sexual activities therein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Mental disorders (MeDi) and suicide attempts (SA) are influenced by environmental and genetic factors. Genetic polymorphism studies have identified some candidate genes for suicidal behaviour in people with MeDi. Objective To evaluate MeDi and SA in relation to the presence of rs2020933 (5-HTT), rs1800871 (IL-10) and rs1800629 (TNF-α) polymorphisms. Methods A questionnaire for identification and general data, a brief quality of life assessment (WHOQOL-brief), the scale of suicide ideation by Beck and the MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview were used in this study. DNA was obtained using buccal mucosa swab samples, and genotyping was performed using real-time polymerase chain reaction. A total of 306 patients were assessed with MeDi; 161 patients had MeDi and a history of SA, and 145 patients had MeDi and no history of SA. The study had 175 subjects in the control group. Results The TNF-α rs1800629 -308A/G genotype was significantly associated with function as a protection factor in the control group compared with MeDi without SA. The TNF-α rs1800629 -308G allele appeared as risk factor for MeDi compared to the control group, for female gender. Additionally, the −308A/G + A/A genotype appeared as protection factor for the control group compared to the group with MeDi. For TNF-α, the −308G allele appeared as risk factor for the number of SA (1 time) compared to the control group. Conclusion The IL-10 (rs1800871) and 5-HTT (rs2020933) SNPs were considered to have inadequate statistical power. The rs1800629 (TNF-α) polymorphism may be associated with MeDi without SA, MeDi in females and the number of SA (1 time) in the studied group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents two case studies of autoerotic deaths in middle-aged males. Particular focus is given to the cause of death, which is usually through oxygen depletion resulting from autoerotic asphyxia caused by actions such as self-strangulation, hanging and use of gas or volatile chemicals, the equipment used by both victims and the forensic findings. Photographs from both cases are included.

This article explores representations of autoerotic death in a range of discursive fields: the media, forensic pathology, the psy sciences, literary fiction, and internet humour. It adopts a broadly Foucauldian approach to the study of the topic; i.e., rather than interrogating what sexual practices leading to autoerotic death mean, or what motivates people to experiment with these ‘extreme’ practices, it explores instead what attitudes towards autoerotic death tell us about normative cultural understandings of sexuality and gender. The article interrogates the ways in which gender norms and roles are at play in the apprehension of autoerotic fatalities, marking some of the men who die in this way as effeminate, failed men; while others are represented as hypermasculine misadventurers. It also discusses why the rare female autoerotic fatality troubles assumptions about the nature and role of women. The biases guiding definitions of ‘normal’ and ‘abnormal’ sexuality and gender are thus revealed in particularly striking ways by moving the focus of interrogation away from the pathologised practices and the bodies they produce, and onto the discourses that pronounce about them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hanging deaths from investigation standpoint are rarely problematic. Unusual circumstances can on occasion raise suspicion of foul play. Associated neck injuries are reported in the literature with variable frequency (from 0% to 76.8%). This study retrospectively analyzed 755 hanging deaths in Ontario (Canada) to evaluate the demographic features and circumstances of hanging fatalities, and the frequency of hanging‐related neck injuries. A number of cases showed unusual/special circumstances (e.g., complex, double suicides, restraints). Among 632 cases with complete autopsies, hyoid and larynx fractures were present in 46 cases (7.3%) with the most common being isolated hyoid fractures. The incidence of cricoid fractures was 0.5% and cervical spine injuries, 1.1%. A higher incidence of neck injuries occurred among males, long drop hangings, and in cases with complete suspension. There was a tendency for the number of fractures to increase with increasing age and weight of the deceased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deaths in an autoerotic setting are usually due to accidental asphyxia, in which the individual accidently hangs or strangles themselves while inducing hypoxia for the purpose of heightened arousal. Death occurs when the level of hypoxia causes the individual to lose consciousness and is thus unable to prevent the neck compression from becoming lethal. In some cases there is an 'escape' mechanism incorporated into the set-up which may fail. In rare cases, death is not as an immediate result of the autoerotic activity and is as a result of natural causes, which may or may not be related to the process. This case demonstrates the death of a 69 year old male which has occurred in the setting of a complex autoerotic environment, not as a result of asphyxiation, but rather as a result of natural causes which is likely to have been brought about by repeated similar activity. The autopsy revealed pulmonary emboli and lower limb deep vein thrombosis. There was no other natural disease of note and no features considered typical of asphyxiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay examines both actual accounts and fictional representations of sexual hanging. Topics covered an investigation of the 19th-century representations of sexual hanging found in James Hogg's "The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner," Robert Browning's "Porphyria's Lover" and Arthur Machen's "The Great God Pan," how the particular sexuality was performed and how it was understood, and the regular occurrence of accidental asphyxiation, such as brain damage or death.

• Autoerotic asphyxia is a form of deviant sexual behavior. • Frequent cause of death in such fatalities is asphyxia during sexual stimulation. • The case of an accidental autoerotic fatality involving victim's abuse of toluene. • Drug abuse in cases of autoerotic asphyxia may increase the risk of fatal results. Autoerotic asphyxia is a form of deviant sexual behavior that seeks sexual gratification by means of manipulation with one's own body resulting in asphyxia, and may sometimes turn out to be fatal. Autoerotic fatalities involving autoerotic asphyxia are divided into two groups: "typical" autoerotic fatalities involve mechanical compression of the neck, chest or abdomen, whereas "atypical" autoeroticism involves sexual self-stimulation by other means. Cases where asphyxiophilic behavior is accompanied by volatile substance abuse are reported to be rather rare, but may involve a high risk of fatal results. This paper presents a case of accidental "atypical" autoeroticism involving victim's abuse of toluene, which, combined with asphyxiophilic airway occlusion, led to death. For the sake of comprehensiveness, both a verbal description and a schematic representation of the major metabolic pathways of acute and chronic abuse metabolic markers is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article looks at the challenges related to insurance coverage of the involves an insured's death resulting from his or her engagement in autoerotic asphyxia, which is the practice of limiting the supply of oxygen to the brain in an attempt to heighten sexual pleasure. Topics discussed include coverage issues under accidental death policies, insurance coverage laws related to an accidental bodily injury, and the U.S. Supreme Court decision in "Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. v. Bruch" case.

Autoerotic deaths are defined as accidental deaths that occur during individual, solitary sexual activity in which some type of apparatus that was used to enhance the sexual stimulation of the deceased caused unintentional death. In the Western countries, the incidence of these deaths is of approximately 0.5 deaths per million inhabitants per year. In this paper, five myths about autoerotic death are explored. Myth #1: the manner of death in autoerotic death is usually accidental but could also be suicidal or natural (reality: by definition, all autoerotic deaths are accidental). Myth #2: autoerotic death can happen with a sexual partner (reality: by definition, autoerotic deaths are solitary activities). Myth #3: an escape mechanism must be found at the scene (reality: there is no escape mechanism to be observed at the scene in the majority of autoerotic deaths). Myth #4: all autoerotic deaths are related to asphyxia (reality: not all autoerotic deaths are related to asphyxia). Myth #5: masturbation is an important component of all autoerotic activities and therefore all autoerotic deaths (reality: evidence of masturbation at the scene is a rare finding). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Celebrity sexual scandal has long attracted the attention of the popular media and is a motivating force in the construction of celebrity identity. Its aftermath is often carefully stage-managed by agents, publicists and promoters, but always mediated and beyond the control of the celebrity. It is the relationship between celebrity and a particular sexual transgression – autoerotic asphyxiation (AEA) – that is our focus here in terms of how celebrity and AEA have been similarly read and discussed. This is illustrated through a consideration of the diverse case studies of the peculiarly perverse and untimely deaths of INXS front man Michael Hutchence, found naked in a hotel room in 1997, veteran B-movie actor David Carradine, discovered hanging from a wardrobe in a Thai hotel in 2010, and the bizarre reports regarding British Conservative MP Stephen Milligan's death in 1994. In considering the practices and discourses around it, we argue that AEA both reveals and makes sense of the tensions and contradictions inherent in celebrity identity. In particular, the article considers the complex negotiations between the private and public selves, contradictory discourses that seek to make sense of an AEA death and the impact it has on the celebrity persona. Ultimately we argue that the nature and content of the sex act and death reconfigures and fixes the celebrity identity that existed prior to the celebrity's association with AEA. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Copyright of Archiv für Kriminologie is the property of Schmidt-Roemhild Verlag and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Archiv für Kriminologie is the property of Schmidt-Roemhild Verlag and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article presents information on the sex, drugs and accidental death insurance. Accident insurance is commonly known as accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) coverage. It states that drug abuse and misuse deaths fall into three categories including those involved in deliberate abuse or unlawful use of therapeutic medications, those involved in illicit drugs and those involved in overdoses of lawfully prescribed drugs. It also discusses court's treatment to deaths which results from autoerotic asphyxiation as self-inflicted injuries and insurance accidents. It also explains the systematic framework that courts should apply to find whether an insured's death from autoerotic asphyxiation or drug overdose was accidental or not.

The article presents a case study of an atypical autoerotic death caused by an accidental mechanical asphyxiation due to autoerotic circumstances. The external examination noted extensive joint compound present in mouth and no evidence of any defensive wounds or bruising. As reported, the decedent was trying Mud Eroticism, and he substituted Plaster of Paris instead of mud. The decedent appeared to have slipped on the wet plaster causing the mechanical obstruction.

Abstract: Detection of diatom frustules in bone marrow (diatom test) is used for diagnosing ante-mortem drowning where the usual signs of drowning are not present in dead bodies recovered from water. However, controversies over the reliability of diatom test results are continuing. There have been indications on the possibilities of diatoms entering into systemic circulation from atmospheric air, food and drink. While diatoms have been demonstrated in the gut content of edible marine forms such as shrimps and clams, the present study, for the first time, provides empirical evidence on the prevalence as well as abundance of diatom frustules in the samples of cooked non-vegetarian foodstuffs that impend human consumption in Kelantan, Malaysia. It is found that 50g each of cleaned and cooked prawns and of clams impending human consumption contain about 8360 and 29,054 diatom frustules, respectively. A person accustomed to prawn and clam food would be ingesting an estimated 2 million diatoms in a single year. Considering the suggestion that detection of five diatom frustules in 10g of bone marrow would suffice for concluding drowning as mode of death, and the fact that there is yet no proof that diatom frustules do not enter into the human systemic circulation through the digestive tract, the estimated number of diatom frustules routinely ingested acquires significance since entry of a few of such ingested frustules into the systemic circulation can lead to false positive test results. The findings of this research raise two important issues: first, population based routine food related diatom ingestion requires to be estimated, and, second, studies have to be initiated to categorically prove or disprove the possibility of entry of diatom frustules into the systemic circulation via the digestive tract. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

ABSTRACT: Autoerotic death by hanging or ligature is a method of autoeroticism well known by forensic pathologists. In order to analyze autoerotic deaths of nonclassic hanging or ligature type, this paper reviews all published cases of autoerotic deaths from 1954 to 2004, with the exclusion of homicide cases or cases in which the autoerotic activity was not solitary. These articles were obtained through a systematic Medline database search. A total of 408 cases of such deaths has been reported in 57 articles. For each case, the following characteristics are presented here: sex, age, race, method of autoerotic activity, cause of death, and location where the body was found. Autoerotic death practioners were predominantly Caucasian males. Victims were aged from 9 to 77 years and were mainly found in various indoor locations. Most cases were asphyxia by hanging, ligature, plastic bags, chemical substances, or a mixture of these. Still, atypical methods of autoerotic activity leading to death accounted for about 10.3% of cases in the literature and are classified here into five broad categories: electrocution (3.7%), overdressing/body wrapping (1.5%), foreign body insertion (1.2%), atypical asphyxia method (2.9%), and miscellaneous (1.0%). All these atypical methods are further discussed individually. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT: The term Aqua‐eroticum was first introduced in 1984 by Sivaloganathan to describe the unusual autoerotic death of a man using submersion as an asphyxia method. This was the first case of that kind, and since then, no other case of autoerotic submersion has been reported, nor other autoerotic fatality in open water. Here we report the case of a 25‐year‐old man, nude under a home‐made plastic body suit, overdressed for the season with winter clothes and restrained by complex bondage. He was submersed, tied underwater to a boat and was using a home‐made diving apparatus for air supply. Death was ruled as accidental autoerotic asphyxia from rebreathing, caused by the faulty air‐supply device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Argues that autoerotic-asphyxiation deaths are accidents and not the results of intentionally self-inflicted injuries. Analysis of accident-insurance case law; Claims regarding autoerotic-asphyxiation deaths; Effect of intentionally self-inflicted injury exclusion clauses.

Explores the psychiatric and forensic aspects of asphyxiophilia. Interpretation of the nature and function of some of the most intimate and complex of human experiences; Manifestations of sexuality and conditions of death; Voluntary oxygen deprivation in the service of erotic pleasure.

Copyright of Archiv für Kriminologie is the property of Schmidt-Roemhild Verlag and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Between 1978 and 1997 the Institute of Legal Medicine of the Hannover Medical School examined 17 fatal autoerotic deaths. The incidence for the Hannover region was 0.49 cases per million inhabitants per year. The victims included 17 men with an average age of 36.8 years; a peak in the age distribution was seen between 20 and 29 years. Twelve of the men were found by friends or family in a domestic environment, while other situations in which the victims were found included the victim’s own car, a hotel room, a canal embankment, a public parking lot as well as the holding cell of the youth detention center. The men were of varying socioeconomic status and held a number of different types of jobs or still attended school. Five of the men were found completely nude, while five were only undressed below the waist. Four men wore women’s clothes and two were fully clothed with exposed genitals. Besides women’s clothes, other objects found at the scene included various types of sexual aids, including ropes, chains, metal bars, locks, sex magazines, condoms, plastic bags, rubber items, etc. In four cases blood alcohol levels between 0.1 and 2.5‰ (urine alcohol levels between 0.2 and 2.5‰) were found. Toxicologic examination revealed chloroform, ketamin, a propane–butane gas mixture in one case each, and in two cases cocaine and morphine. Causes of death included central paralysis after strangulation (seven cases), asphyxiation (4), subarachnoid hemorrhage (2), intoxication (1), hypothermia (1), left heart failure (1), and drowning (1). The history, findings at scene, and autopsy findings and, in individual cases, other investigations are of utmost importance to accurately reconstruct a fatal autoerotic accident. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The characteristics common to all human orgasm experiences and potential gender and contextual factors affecting these experiences were investigated in two studies. A two-dimensional descriptive model of the orgasm experience was evaluated by testing hypotheses concerning (a) fit of the model to adjective-ratings data describing male and female orgasm experiences, and (b) sexual context effects on the importance of model components. In the first model-evaluation study, 888 university students (523 women) provided adjective ratings to convey orgasm experiences attained through both solitary masturbation and sex with a partner. In a cross-validation study, 798 university students (503 women) provided similar ratings to convey orgasm experiences attained either through solitary masturbation or through sex with a partner. Overall, findings supported the utility of a two-dimensional model of the orgasm experience, an adjective-rating approach in comparing male and female orgasm, and the importance of examining sexual context effects on the orgasm experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of 118 autoerotic asphyxial deaths, recorded by the Coroners or Medical Examiners from the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Alberta, were compared with the same number of asphyxial suicides matched by province, year of death (within 3 years) and method of asphyxiation. Comparison of the death scenes revealed major differences between the two groups, with nudity of the body, evidence of a wide range of sexual activity at the time of death, and absence of verbal or written indication of suicidal intent being characteristic of the autoerotic asphyxia group. The data indicate that autoerotic asphyxia and suicidal asphyxia can usually be readily distinguished by death scene features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the observation by Kinsey, Pomeroy, Martin, and Gebhard (1953) that most women who make more than desultory attempts at masturbation achieve orgasm, it was hypothesized that in preorgasmic women's groups, time spent on masturbatory homework assignments would be positively related to orgasmic outcome. For 14 participants in preorgasmic women's groups, time spent practicing assignments was compared with orgasmic status at the end of therapy. Correlations among time records made at time of therapy, therapists' recollections at time of follow-up, and subjects' recollections at follow-up ranged from .85 to .93. A point-biseriaI r of .88 (p < .001) was found between time spent on homework assignments and orgasmic status at the end of therapy. Results are consistent with those of Kinsey et al. (1953) and McMullen and Rosen (1979). Equivalence of the latters' two experimental groups is speculatively reinterpreted as due to similarity of videotape and written instructions in motivating performance of masturbatory assignments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autoerotic asphyxia is the practice of self-inducing cerebral anoxia, usually by hanging, strangulation, or suffocation, during masturbation. This study investigated the relationships between: asphyxiators' ages; two paraphilias commonly accompanying autoerotic asphyxia, bondage and transvestism; and various other types of simultaneous sexual behaviour. Subjects were two concurrent series totalling 117 males aged 10-56 who died accidentally during autoerotic asphyxial activities. Data concerning sexual paraphernalia at the scene of death or among the deceased's effects were extracted from coronors' files using standardised protocols. Anal self-stimulation with dildos, etc., and self-observation with mirrors or cameras were correlated with transvestism. Older asphyxiators were more likely to have been simultaneously engaged in bondage or transvestism, suggesting elaboration of the masturbatory ritual over time. The greatest degree of transvestism was associated with intermediate rather than high levels of bondage, suggesting that response competition from bondage may limit asphyxiators' involvement in a third paraphilia like transvestism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexual asphyxia, a solitary autoerotic activity practiced almost exclusively by males, is examined in this paper. The self-induced asphyxia may be either chemical or mechanical, and its purpose it to heighten the sexual pleasure. The practice of sexual asphyxia can result in death; however, many such deaths may erroneously be viewed as suicides or homicides as a result of the lack of knowledge of the practice. Sixteen sexual asphyxial deaths, reported in Dade County (Miami), Florida, are examined in detail. These data confirm that practitioners are over-whelmingly young, white, middle-class, unmarried males. When the practice is fatal among older practitioners, the data show that some complicating factor, such as the use of alcohol or other drugs, may have contributed to the accident. The most frequent method of inducing the asphyxia was simple hanging by rope and in most cases there was no indication nor suspicion of suicidal intent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study of a 70-year-old man with an unusual genital piercing that divided the two corpora cavernosa. It says that prosecutors ordered a forensic autopsy to determine whether the case was an autoerotic death/sexual asphyxia or a natural death. Complications of genital piercing are also mentioned such as erectile dysfunction and urinary tract infections.

A 19-year-old woman was found dead with her face and head wrapped in plastic adhesive tape in a cupboard beside an opened helium cylinder. Despite the alleged presence of a suicide message on a social networking website, the unusual circumstances raised the possibility at the time of autopsy of either accidental death from sexual asphyxia or homicide. A carefully monitored reenactment demonstrated, however, that the type of commercial adhesive tape that had been used did not cause complete airway obstruction and that it was possible to wrap a considerable length of tape around the head and neck with the breath held. All of the features at autopsy were, therefore, compatible with self-infliction. Asphyxial death was attributed to the combined effects of smothering from tape and anoxia from helium, an extremely rare combination in young females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autoeroticism comprises behavior deviations aimed at producing sexual gratification through the manipulation of one's own body. The use of asphyxia and the induction of pain (masochism) are well-known examples. ' Atypical forms' of such behaviors have appeared in the literature as isolated cases. Fatal air embolism is most common in women (causing abortion), being very rare in men (urethral trauma). The authors present a probable case of air embolism associated with signs of autoeroticism, instrumented by the delivery of air through a system formed by a compressor (typical of those used in refrigerators), a syringe barrel, a segment of latex tubing (tourniquet), and a needle, which was found inserted into the glans penis of an adult male. The hypothesis of accidental death was chosen due to the findings at the scene. The body was decomposing when found, which hampered the conduction of examinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intra-alveolar hemorrhage and hemosiderin have been cited as possible markers of recent and remote asphyxial events. Little study has been undertaken of the potential significance of intra-alveolar hemosiderin in adults as a potential marker of previous sublethal asphyxial episodes. Ten cases of lethal sexual asphyxia (an entity known to be associated with repetitive sublethal asphyxial episodes) and 20 randomly selected, age- and sex-matched controls had sections of lung stained for hemosiderin. Subsequently, intra-alveolar, iron-containing macrophages were counted. All cases were men (ages 15-50 years; mean 31.8). No significant increase in hemosiderin was found in victims of sexual asphyxia, indicating that asphyxial episodes in sublethal sexual asphyxial activities may not be sufficiently intense or prolonged to cause intra-alveolar hemorrhage or that intra-alveolar hemorrhage in adults is a relatively nonspecific finding. These results do not support intra-alveolar hemosiderin deposition as a marker for previous sublethal asphyxial events in autoerotic asphyxia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Review of 69 cases of lethal asphyxia in individuals aged from 10 to 18 years was undertaken in South Australia. There were 62 cases of suicide due to hanging (89.9%) (age range 10–18 years; mean = 16.6 years; M:F = 3.4:1), 4 accidents (5.8%) (3 crush asphyxias in motor vehicle rollovers, and 1 positional asphyxia associated with marked alcohol intoxication) and 3 homicides (4.3%). In the suicide group, there were 46 whites (74.2%), 12 Aboriginal (19.4%), 3 Asians (4.8%) and 1 African (1.6%). There were no deaths due to sexual asphyxia or the “choking game”. However, the percentage of Aboriginal victims was disproportionately high compared to the percentage of the population aged 10–19 years listed as Aboriginal (approximately 3%). Thus, constant monitoring of local trends in mortality will identify if new activities such as the “choking game” have emerged, and also characterize specific problems that may exist in particular communities or cultural groups. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Autoerotic deaths are normally classified as accidental deaths occurring during individual, and usually solitary, sexual activity in which a device, apparatus, or prop used to enhance sexual stimulation of the deceased somehow causes unintended death. The most common methods of autoerotic practices are asphyxia by hanging, ligature, plastic bag, chemical substances, or a mixture of these. However, atypical methods such as overdressing/body wrapping have also been reported. In fact, overdressing/body wrapping is so rare that it is implicated in only 1.5% of published cases. Although plastic bags are often implicated in autoerotic deaths, there has been only one previous case that involved a plastic covering the victim’s body from head to toe. We here report the case of a 34-year-old man who died due to asphyxia, secondary to body wrapping in the largest and most complex plastic bag ever involved in a published case of autoerotic death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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