ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with areas that often cause problems for the pathologist. The pathologist is often asked to consider different scenarios, and one set of pathological facts may be consistent with more than one pattern of causation. Injuries may be self-inflicted with the intention of killing oneself, for psychiatric reasons or for other gain. The latter pattern of injuries is often seen where there is a claim that another person attacked the alleged victim. Suicide by penetrating weapons other than firearms rarely involves the head, although, with some psychiatrically disordered people, bizarre injuries or methods of self-destruction may be used and case reports describing such events appear from time to time. Accidental injury may also be seen with a pencil or other sharp implement. Most non-firearms deaths caused by penetrating injuries are going to be homicidal or accidental. The differentiation of self-inflicted gunshot wounds from homicide is a central role of the post-mortem examination.
