1. Characteristics of unnatural deaths in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina: A 10-year study (2008-2017)
- Author
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Roger W. Byard and Ines Aparici
- Subjects
Adult ,Male ,Injury control ,Adolescent ,Accident prevention ,Argentina ,Mortuary Practice ,Poison control ,Tierra ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Cause of Death ,Suicide, Completed ,Humans ,030216 legal & forensic medicine ,030212 general & internal medicine ,Child ,Aged ,Retrospective Studies ,Aged, 80 and over ,Retrospective review ,Health Policy ,Accidents mortality ,Infant ,Records ,Middle Aged ,Issues, ethics and legal aspects ,Geography ,Unnatural death ,Accidents ,Child, Preschool ,Ethnology ,Female ,Homicide ,Law - Abstract
A retrospective review was undertaken of 287 unnatural deaths undergoing medicolegal investigation over a 10-year period from January 2008 to December 2017 in Rio Grande, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. There were 219 males and 68 females, age range 7 months to 88 years (average 38.4 years). The 135 accidental deaths (47%) were due mainly to vehicle crashes ( N = 62) and carbon monoxide toxicity from fires ( N = 31). The 115 cases of suicides (40.1%) were predominantly due to hanging ( N = 75) and gunshot wounds ( N = 20). The 37 cases of homicide (12.9%) were mainly due to stabbing/sharp force injury ( N = 20) and blunt force trauma ( N = 9). Carbon monoxide toxicity from faulty heating accounted for a substantial percentage (8.1%) of the accidental deaths. Firearm homicides and suicides related to drug toxicity and carbon monoxide inhalation were relatively uncommon medicolegal cases in this centre.
- Published
- 2019