Original Contribution
Forensic Evaluation of Suicidal Deaths due to Organophosphorus Compounds Poisoning
1.Dr. Tasnuva Aziz Munalisa, Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine, Sylhet Women’s Medical
College, Sylhet 3100, Bangladesh.
2. Dr. Md. Shamsul Islam, Associate Professor and Head, Department of Forensic Medicine, Sylhet MAG Osmani
Medical College, Sylhet 3100, Bangladesh.
3. Dr. Abu Tareq Md Rashel, Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Sylhet Women’s
Medical College, Sylhet 3100, Bangladesh.
4. Dr. Tahmina Islam, Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine, Jalalabad RagibRabeya Medical
College, Sylhet 3100, Bangladesh.
5. *Dr. Mohammad Nurunnabi, Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Sylhet Women’s Medical
College, Sylhet 3100, Bangladesh. nur.somch@gmail.com
*Correspondence
Abstract
Background: In Bangladesh, agrochemical-related suicides are on the rise. The use of
organophosphorous compounds (OPCs) as insecticides is common and widely used as a suicidal
method in our countries due to their inexpensiveness and easy accessibility.
Methods: The intent of this autopsy study among cases of OPC poisoning deaths was to determine
the evaluation of autopsy reports of 254 OPC poisoning suicidal deaths during 2017 and 2018 at
the mortuary of Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College, Bangladesh.
Results: Two out of three victims were aged below 30 years, which belongs to the young age
group, and females (58.3%) were predominant. Most of the victims resided in Companygonj
(18.1%), and Gowainghat (15.0%), which represent the rural parts of Sylhet. Three-fourths of the
dead bodies (76.0%) were brought to the morgue under Kotwali police station. The most prevalent
finding of OPC poisoning suicidal deaths was asphyxia (96.8%).
Conclusion: The present study showed that the majority of the patients were young females than
males. The distribution of insecticides to the general population should be strictly regulated by law
and adequate focus placed on the safe usage of pesticides. All age groups need to be made aware of
this poisoning’s potentially fatal effects, but young ones need this information the most.
[Shaheed Syed Nazrul Islam Med Col J 2023, Jul; 8 (2):69-75]
Keywords: Forensic evaluation,OPC poisoning, suicidal deaths, Sylhet, Bangladesh
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