Examination of the scene of death at suicide

Suicide is the decision to take one's own life.

Examination of the deceased should always be done and is carried out by doctors. The purpose of the examination of the deceased is to determine the person's death, the probable cause of death, the time of death, and to determine whether an autopsy should be performed. The examination of the body must not damage any evidence at the scene that may be relevant to the police investigation.

The work of the doctor at the scene of the deceased:

• examination of the deceased and the place of discovery;
• establishing the diagnosis of death;
• determining the cause of death;
• determining whether the death was natural or violent;
• describing the development of post-mortem changes;
• determination of the time of death.

The examination of the place

The examination of the place where the body was found is very important in terms of establishing the circumstances of the death, preliminary determination of the time and cause of death. The examination of the body or the parts found is always carried out by a doctor. The examination of the place of discovery is carried out by a forensic technician.

Suicide victims usually seek out deserted places, remote dwellings, hard-to-reach places (not only in houses, cellars, attics, toilets, but often they take the train far from home). The deceased are found in various places and locations. The room where the suicide is carried out is usually closed from the inside (locked door from the inside) or otherwise secured. In the case of gas poisoning, windows and crevices may be sealed. At the scene of the crime, suicide notes are often written or sent just before the suicide. A motive is often stated in the letter.

Suicide methods

The method of suicide is usually simple, one acts quickly and simply. Suicide bombings are usually in typical locations that are easy to reach by hand. In sharp-edged suicides, numerous cuts are observed, mainly on the wrist or neck. Blunt-force suicides (self-harm) are rare. Death by suicide as a result of polytrauma is typical when falling from a height or jumping under a vehicle. For drowning, the distinction between suicide and homicide is virtually impossible. Suicidal injuries are inflicted by the suicide on the naked body (as opposed to homicide, where the injuries are conducted through the clothing). Stab wounds in suicide tend to be localised in the region of the heart or abdomen. Stab wounds are more frequent, concentric, vary in depth and direction and are at the site of vital organs.