A Death of a Man Due to Strong Acid Trauma at a Rice Field, a Homicide or Suicide?
ABSTRACT: In general highly
corrosive acids or bases injury can occur due to deliberate or unintentional,
such as workplace-related accidence, vocational negligence, unintentional child
corrosive poisonings. Acids are considered to be corrosive when it has a high
concentration, are irritants at moderate concentrations, and stimulant at low
concentrations. This is a report of a strong acid poisioning case of a 60
year-old- man found dead in the middle of a rice field in Demak in September
2015. The victim was one of the farmers protesting the illegal dredging project.
At the crime scene, a hoe and a bottle made of “plastic” (used fertilizer
container, classified as moderate acid) lying beside the deceased, giving an
impression that he commited suicide by consuming the liquid. External
examination revealed: burn marks are red brown or black, dry and hard on the
eyelids, nostrils, lips, tongue, neck and chest. The results of the examination
showed: 1. Mucosal irritation, with a bright red and brownish red, accompanied
by ulceration. It was also found irritation in tongue, larynx and edemous
glottis and esophagus. 2. Pseudomembranous inflammation of the trachea and
bronchi which resulted in superficial epithelial damage and necrosis affect
submucosal layer. 3. Brain edema due to anoxia. The forensic examination
confirms that the cause of death was homicide.
Author: Setyo Trisnadi
Journal Code: jpkedokterangg160048
