Autoerotic Asphyxial Death Initially Misinterpreted as Suicide and a Review of the Literature

Because of a lack of knowledge on the part of many people, including professionals, about autoerotic activities & the fact that this type of fatality shares common characteristics with suicide & homicide, these cases are often misinterpreted. The authors present a case of autoerotic accidental asphyxial death which was initially misinterpreted as suicide. (25 refs.)