Scholars Journal of Applied Medical Sciences (SJAMS) ISSN 2320-6691 (Online) Sch. J. App. Med. Sci., 2016; 4(3A):624-631 ISSN 2347-954X (Print) ©Scholars Academic and Scientific Publisher (An International Publisher for Academic and Scientific Resources) www.saspublisher.com Original Research Article Analytical Study of Suicidal Deaths Due To Poisoning in Warangal Area Dr. T. Krupal Singh1, Dr. T. Naveen2, Dr. Lavanya Kowsil .G3, Dr. Jakkam Surendar4 1Associate Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine, Kakatiya medical college, Warangal, Telangana-506007, India 2Department of Forensic Medicine, Kakatiya medical college, Warangal, Telangana-506007, India 3Department of Forensic Medicine, Gandhi medical college, Secunderabad, Telangana, India 4Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine, KIMS&RF, Amalapuram East Godavari, Andhra Pradesh- 533201, India *Corresponding author Dr. Jakkam Surendar Email: [email protected] Abstract: Suicide is taken as the biggest sin in all religions. Still the incidence is not coming down in any part of the world. Statistics are saying that 1/3rd of all unnatural deaths are because of suicides. Poisoning is one of the commonest methods of committing suicide especially in developing countries like India due to easy availability of poisons because most of the people dependent on agriculture work where poisons like pesticides and insecticides etc. are used. The present study is a prospective study in Kakatiya Medical College, Warangal during the period from January 2013 to June 2014 in the Department of Forensic Medicine. The total number of suicides committed by poisoning is coming to 337 in the study period. They are 186 (55.19%) in the calendar year 2013 and 151 (44.81%) in the first half year of 2014.Total number of males committed suicide by poisoning are 233(69.14%) and females are 104(30.86%) with a ratio of 2.24: 1.265 (78.64%) persons are from low socio economic strata, and 181 (53.71%) are illiterates Most of the deaths are committed by consuming Organo Phosphate compounds. Financial reasons are the leading precipitating factors for committing suicides in the present study and 118 (35.01%) persons died for this. Keywords: suicides, poisons, precipitating factors. INTRODUCTION “Forensic Toxicology” deals with the medical Suicide is taken as the biggest sin in all and legal aspects of the harmful effects of chemicals or religions. Still the incidence is not coming down in any poisons on human beings [2]. part of the world. Statistics are saying that 1/3rd of all unnatural deaths are because of suicides. Enough Sections- 176, 193, 201, 284, 299, 300, 304A, education is made about the ill effects of such coward 309, 320, 324, 326 and 328 of I.P.C. and Sections- 39, act, in spite; people are terminating their lives without 40 and 175 of Cr. P.C. deal with offences relating to any mercy on them and leaving their loved ones in administration of poisonous substances. Sections 272 to agony. In the present day Suicide has become an 276 of I.P.C. deal with adulterated food and drugs [3, emotional outlet. Life styles and Stress are becoming 4]. Suicidal poison on the contrary should produce the precipitating factors to commit suicide. At the same immediate painless death, easily available and time the broadcast media or the society is playing an accessible, and should have a pleasant taste and smell irresponsible role in increasing the incidence of these [5-14]. preventable deaths. Unnecessary promotion of information to the borderline and indecisive people, is Aims and Objectives leading to their final event [1]. The magnitude of the suicidal deaths in the present day represents the tip of the iceberg. The present study Poisoning is one of the commonest methods of is taken with the following aims: committing suicide especially in developing countries 1. To analyze the deaths occurring due to Poisoning, like India due to easy availability of poisons because which were subjected to Post mortem examination, most of the people dependent on agriculture work who intended to commit suicide where poisons like pesticides and insecticides etc. are 2. To have a comprehensive approach to these deaths, used. so that we can understand the incidence of such suicidal poisoning in regard to their circumstances 624 Singh TK et al., Sch. J. App. Med. Sci., March 2016; 4(3A):624-631 and the preventive measures that can be adopted. years and the of the female victim is 24.4 years. (Tab- 1).258 (76.56%) persons are married among the 193 MATERIAL AND METHODS (57.27%) are males and 65 (19.29%) are females. 71 Inclusion Criteria: (21.07%) are unmarried and 8 (2.37%) are widowed. 1. All died with an allegation of suicide by poisoning, (Tab-2). as mentioned in the Inquest, which are subjected to Post-mortem examination in the mortuary of 265 (78.64%) persons are from low socio Kakatiya Medical College, Warangal during the economic strata; 72 (21.36%) persons are from middle period from January 2013 to June 2014, registered socio-economic strata and there is no record is available in the Police Stations coming under the Jurisdiction from high socio economic strata .181 (53.71%) are of Department of Forensic Medicine, Kakatiya illiterates; 114 (33.83%) has primary education; 29 Medical College Warangal. (8.61%) has secondary education; 10 (2.97%) are 2. All the suicidal poisoning deaths where the final graduates and 3 (0.89%) are professionals (Tab-3). opinion is dispatched based on the FSL reports. 3. All the suicidal poisoning deaths irrespective of the 303 (89.91%) are habitat in rural areas; 18 Investigating Officer (as Police or Tahsildar) are (5.34%) are from sub-urban area of towns and selected. 16(4.75%) are living in city. 102 (30.27%) are farmers 4. Deaths occurred in the spot and deaths occurred by their occupation; 85 (25.22%) are daily laborers; 27 while undergoing treatment is selected. (8.01%) are skilled laborers as toddy tappers, weavers, tailors etc. 26 (7.72%) woman are home makers; Exclusion criteria: 24(7.12%) are students; 22 (6.53%) has employed in 1. Cases in which the manner of death is not clearly private agencies; 16 (4.75%) has their own business; 4 mentioned in the inquest or any ambiguity is (1.16%) are government employees, 31 (9.20%) victims expressed about the cause of death. are not working anywhere (Tab-4). 30 (8.90%) persons 2. Cases without final opinions died on the spot they consumed the poison as they are 3. Unidentified dead bodies are discarded. not observed immediately after the consumption. 20 of 4. Decomposed bodies are discarded where the post- them died in open places and 10 of them died in their mortem examination findings are not clear. own house. In rest of the persons there are attempts 5. Exhumation bodies are not selected. made to rescue them by taking to medical care. 82 6. Spot post-mortem examinations are not selected. (24.33%) of them are attended deaths and died within 6 hours from consumption. 122 (36.20%) persons RESULTS survived between 6 to 24 hours. 51 (15.13%) persons The number if Post mortem examinations died in between 1 to 3 days. And another 52 (15.43%) conducted by the Department of Forensic Medicine persons had a longer hospital stay and died after three Kakatiya Medical College, Warangal are 1661 in 2012 days. The longest stay in the hospital was 21 days for a and 1440 in 2013. The total number of suicides case of organophosphate poisoning. As many as 265 committed by poisoning is coming to 337 in the study (78.64%) deaths occurred in hospital; 16 (4.75%) period. They are 186 (55.19%) in the calendar year persons died in their own houses; 28 (8.31%) persons 2013 and 151 (44.81%) in the first half year of 2014 died in open areas; 24 (7.12%) died on the way to hospital and 4 (1.19%) persons died in others houses Total number of males committed suicide by (Tab-5). poisoning are 233(69.14%) and females are 104(30.86%) with a ratio of 2.24: 1. The age Most of the deaths are committed by distribution of the victims is showing increased consuming Organo Phosphate compounds. They incidence between 21 years to 50 years in both sexes. accounted for 289 (85.75%) deaths of total 337. The total number of Post mortem Examinations done in 8(2.37%) persons consumed Organo Chlorine the age groups coming under 21 years to 50 years is compounds; 2 (0.59%) persons consumed Carbamate; 262(77.75%). Among them 198(75.57%) are males and 11 (3.26%) persons consumed Phosphide (Rodenticide); 64(24.43%) are females. There are no deaths seen in the 4 (1.19%) people died of excess alcohol intake; 9 age group less than 10 years of age group who (2.67%) persons consumed corrosive acids and another committed suicides. Female between 11 years and 20 14 (4.15%) persons consumed other poisons as, years 26 (7.72%) in number who are more than their Imidacloprid, Supervasmol, Atenolol, Sedatives and counter part genders who are only 6 (1.78%). The diphenyl hair dyes (Tab-6 and 7). youngest girl to commit suicide is 12 years. Old person who are more than 80 years are also seen in the present Financial reasons are the leading precipitating study who committed suicide by poisoning. Eldest factors for committing suicides in the present study and person committed suicide is 86 years male, according to 118 (35.01%) persons died for this. The next leading inquest .The average age of the male victim is 37.5 factor is the health problems, which are varying from 625 Singh TK et al., Sch.