Korean J Leg Med.  2006 Oct;30(2):135-139.

A Case of Natural Death Misinterpreted as Electrocution

• Yang KM
• Kim HJ
• Kim SH
• Kim DW
• Choi CH
• Kwon TJ
• Chung NE
• Kang SM

Abstract

When the circumstance of a death seems to be related with electric shock, most of the forensic pathologists tend to diagnose the cause of death as electrocution if they see the electric mark(s) with the notincompatible histology, and find no other definite causes of death at autopsy. But admittedly forensic pathologists know that the so-called electric mark(s) and its histology is not pathognomonic to diagnose electrocution, so the diagnosis should be confirmed by the appropriate investigation of the death scene and the electric devices. We present a case of a man who had a likely current mark that could be diagnosed as natural by ruling out the possibility of electrocution with the examination of the electric lamp which had been under the dead body at the scene. This case gives us the importance of appropriate probe about scene evidences supplied by forensic science in diagnosing and ruling out the electrocution.

Keyword

natural death; electrocution; electric mark; forensic science

MeSH Terms

Autopsy
Cause of Death
Diagnosis
Forensic Sciences
Shock