Death by self-inflicted asphyxia with helium – First case reports from Norway and review of the literature

Abstract

An increasing number of asphyxia suicides by inhalation of inert gases have been reported from different parts of the world over the last decade. So far this phenomenon has not been described in our country. This article presents the first two case reports from Norway of presumed suicide by asphyxiation due to helium inhalation from a closed plastic bag over the head. In both cases a forensic autopsy, which included comprehensive toxicological analysis, was requested and performed. In the two cases death was attributed to asphyxia due to helium inhalation, and suffocation due to a plastic bag over the head and aspiration of gastric contents, respectively. Toxicological analysis revealed no findings contributing to the deaths. The absence of toxicological and autopsy findings to determine the cause of death in such cases may represent challenges of clinical and forensic significance. In contrast to the promotion of this method by euthanasia interest groups for the terminally ill reported suicides by helium asphyxiation primarily involve relatively young individuals suffering from psychiatric and/or substance use disorders, and not from terminal illness.