Resumo

GARAMENDI, P.M.; SEGURA-ABAD, L.J.; LOPEZ-ALCARAZ, M.  e  RODRIGUEZ, J.. Characteristics of the methadone intoxication: report of a case of homicide. Cuad. med. forense [online]. 2009, n.56, pp.119-128. ISSN 1988-611X.

In Spain methadone administration is restricted to hospital environment and outside hospitals it is limited to patients affected of chronic pain and opiate dependence. In all cases administration of methadone is under strict medical control. Nevertheless, in our country there are cases of intoxications by methadone and even deaths associated with this opiate analogue. We report a case of a man who died because of a methadone intoxication and probably as a consequence of an homicide. This person was not a methadone user and there were clínical and pathological signs that indicated that his death was caused by opiate intoxication. Toxicological analysis in biological samples could not find opiates but methadone (blood concentration: 0.75 mg/L). We also introduce a bibliographic review about general questions related to methadone intoxication and in this review it is stressed the fact that homicide is exceptional.

Palavras-chave : Methadone; intoxication; death; homicide.

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