Suicide by Homemade Hydrogen Sulfide in Turkey a Case Report

Authors

  • Uğur Koçak Kocatepe University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Forensic Medicine, Afyonkarahisar , Kocatepe Üniversitesi, Tıp Fakültesi Adli Tıp Anabilim Dalı, Afyonkarahisar https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0569-4374
  • Ahmet Hamdi Alpaslan Afyon Kocatepe University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry , Afyon Kocatepe University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
  • Murat Yağan Afyonkarahisar Branch of The Council of Forensic Medicine , Afyonkarahisar Branch of The Council of Forensic Medicine
  • Erdal Özer Karadeniz Technical University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Forensic Medicine , Karadeniz Technical University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Forensic Medicine

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17986/blm.2016323754

Keywords:

hydrogen sulfide, thiosulfate, suicide, knockdown, asphyxia, autopsy

Abstract

Suicide is a major public health problem and globally the second leading cause of death among young adults. Most of deaths due to H2S were seen among sewage or industrial workers because of acute exposure to this gas. Suicide by inhalation of homemade H2S has been reported for the first time in Japan, in 2007. In this study, for the first time, a 24-years-old male university student (from Turkey) preparing homemade H2S by using commercially available chemical products that were bought online in order to suicide was reported. The case is discussed in the light of related literature.

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Author Biography

  • Uğur Koçak, Kocatepe University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Forensic Medicine, Afyonkarahisar, Kocatepe Üniversitesi, Tıp Fakültesi Adli Tıp Anabilim Dalı, Afyonkarahisar

    In 1994, he graduated from the Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University. After completing his compulsory service he started his family medicine Specialization in Taksim Training and Research Hospital and became a Family Medicine Specialist in 2000. After completing the Forensic Medicine specialization at the Council of Forensic Medicine in 2004, he became a Forensic Medicine Specialist. In the National Judicial Network Project carried out by the Ministry of Justice, he took part in the development of the Forensic Medicine Module as a Functional User of Forensic Medicine. In 2005, he was commissioned by the Minister of Justice to construct the Department of Computer Crimes established under the body of the Council of Forensic Medicine. In 2006, he made observations at the London Metropolitan Police High Technology Crimes Laboratory and the Netherlands Institute of Forensic Sciences. He attended Microsoft Systems Engineering, C Programming, SQL Database, WEB Programming, Electronic Signature courses to improve himself in the field of informatics.

    As a result of the investigations, He prepared a report stating that the procedures to be carried out in the Cyber ​​Crimes, Audio and Video Analysis Branches which will be put into operation in the Council of Forensic Medicine are not similar to the examination subjects of the Physical Examination Department and should be carried out under a specialized new department by the professionals consisting of graduate and doctoral students and presented to the Presidency of the Council of Forensic Medicine. He was appointed to the Rize Branch Office of the Council of Forensic Medicine. In 2007, he took part in the organization of Forensic Informatics Course by Forensic Scientists Association and Izmir Institute of High Technology. In 2009, he was appointed as academic member to the Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Rize University. He gave lectures on Forensic Medicine and Medical Informatics. Between November 2012 and November 2018 he worked as the chair of Forensic Medicine Department of Afyon Kocatepe University. He is currently working as a lecturer in the Department of Forensic Medicine, Tayfur Sökmen Medical Faculty, Mustafa Kemal University, Hatay. He is married and has 2 children. Assist. Dr. Uğur Koçak is fluent in English.

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Published

2016-12-29

Issue

Vol. 21 No. 3 (2016)

Section

Case Report

License

Copyright (c) 2016 Uğur Koçak- Ahmet Hamdi Alpaslan- Murat Yağan- Erdal Özer

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How to Cite

1.
Koçak U, Alpaslan AH, Yağan M, Özer E. Suicide by Homemade Hydrogen Sulfide in Turkey a Case Report. Bull Leg Med [Internet]. 2016 Dec. 29 [cited 2025 Sep. 6];21(3):189-92. Available from: https://www.adlitipbulteni.com/index.php/atb/article/view/919