Mass hydrogen sulfide poisoning and the role of forensic medical examination in proving

Abstract

Introduction. Using the example of practical observation, the article describes the features of mass hydrogen sulfide poisoning, as well as the role of the therapeutic and diagnostic process and forensic medical examination in proving it. 
 The aim of the study was to develop effective principles of a comprehensive forensic expert assessment of a case of mass hydrogen sulfide poisoning, as well as to highlight the leading aspects of the role of the therapeutic and diagnostic process in proving the harm to health caused by an environmental crime.
 Material and methods. The material of the study was a case of mass hydrogen sulfide poisoning of residents of the village of Samorodovo of the Orenburg region, which served as the basis for the introduction of an intermunicipal emergency regime on the territory of Orenburg and the Orenburg region. 35 conclusions of the forensic medical examination, 35 medical histories, 1 conclusion of the forensic environmental examination, 1 indictment and 1 sentence were subjected to retrospective analysis.
 Results. Based on the analysis of the considered case of mass poisoning, it can be concluded that to prove a number of environmental crimes, conducting a forensic environmental examination alone is not enough, since objective medical data on the state of health of the victims are also required to establish circumstances significant for the investigation. In other words, the information necessary for the investigation can be obtained only through the most complete clinical and laboratory-instrumental examination of all victims, followed by a forensic medical assessment of the data obtained.
 Limitations. The conducted research was carried out as part of an initiative research work on the analysis of environmental crimes committed on the territory of the Russian Federation in the period from 2016 to 2021. The analyzed documents were provided by the relevant regional divisions of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation by prior agreement and included only materials of criminal cases completed by the investigation.
 Conclusion. The results obtained in the framework of this study clearly demonstrate that in situations like the one described, the presence of even minor diagnostic manifestations of poisoning, and most importantly their objective fixation in medical documentation, allow us to obtain the information necessary to establish the objective truth in the case.