Carbon monoxide in corpses and its relevance for forensic medicine

Abstract

Carbon monoxide poisoning causes 50,000 deaths per year globally, being the leading cause of gas poisoning. In Honduras, between 2012 and 2016, it caused 18 deaths, 72% accidental and 28% suicides. The study analyzed findings of carbon monoxide in corpses and its relevance in forensic medicine; identifying the cause and time of death and its relationship with possible cases of homicide, suicide or accident. A literature review was carried out using SciELO, Dialnet, PubMed, Elsevier, Medline, Google Scholar and BIMENA. The scarcity of data on the effects between time since death, environmental conditions on carboxyhemoglobin levels and the need to validate new techniques for post mortem diagnosis of carbon monoxide poisoning require further research to deepen the subject and improve its practical application.