An Unusual Case of Accidental Carbon Monoxide and Ethanol Intoxication in Two Commorientes Deaths

Abstract

Death by intoxication represents an important cause of violent deaths which could be easily prevented. Accidental ethanol and carbon monoxide intoxications produce the most frequent causes of violent deaths among civilians in Romania. To provide an insight in these types of deaths and to bring attention upon the clinical and biological manifestations as well as of the typical morphologically findings, the authors present a strange case of fatal intoxication due to carbon monoxide in an 88 years old male, found in his bed. Moreover, because of the simultaneous death of the male�s wife in the attic of the house, with ethanol intoxication, we would also like to bring attention to the juridical notion of commorientes, since in the establishing of its constituting characteristics the forensic expertise plays a decisive role.