Self-Inflicted Burns: The Value of Collaboration Between Medicine and Law

• NCJ Number: 234645
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 56 Issue: 3 Dated: May 2011 Pages: 638-644
• Author(s): Nicolas Franchitto, M.D.; Cecile Faurie, M.D.; Ludivine Franchitto, M.D.; Vincent Minville, M.D., Ph.D.; Norbert Telmon, M.D., Ph.D.; Daniel Rouge, M.D., Ph.D.
• Date Published: May 2011
• Length: 7 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Self-inflicted burns are rare in France, but they lead to major, often life-threatening complications. The authors reviewed medical data for patients hospitalized in a burn center from January 2004 to December 2008.

Abstract

Thirty-eight cases of self-inflicted burns were compared with 220 accidental burns. Women were predominantly affected (57.9 percent, n = 22). A psychiatric history (71 percent, n = 27) was more frequent in this population. The mean age of the victims was 38 years. The leading method of suicide was flame (94 percent, n = 36) associated with gasoline used as an accelerant (77.7 percent, n = 28). Mean total burn surface area (41.5 percent) and mortality (36.9 percent) were higher in the self-inflicted burn population. By recognizing epidemiological characteristics and patients at risk, the authors can better classify lesions related to self-immolation. It is important for the forensic physician to consult survival details to correlate these data with the results of autopsy. (Published Abstract)