Abstract

BLANCO PAMPIN, J.  and  MORTE TAMAYO, N.. Suicidal poisoning with paracetamol. Cuad. med. forense [online]. 2002, n.29, pp.37-43. ISSN 1988-611X.

Poisoning by paracetamol is really infrequent, mostly because of its high therapeutic range. Lethal effects of its ingestion are frequently the result of side effects, although by direct action of the substance (acute poisoning); and they occur both in suicides and in overdose in search of analgesia (accidental poisoning). This paper presents the case of a young woman with a psychiatric history, who died after ingestion of a high dose of paracetamol. At first the lack of previous information, the rarity of the method chosen and the unspecific clinical picture, complicated solution of the case. The autopsy evidence, as well as the knowledge of her psychiatric background and the police enquiries, were the keys to clarify the cause and manner of death.

Keywords : poisoning; hepatic failure; paracetamol; suicide.

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