The Statistical Analysis of the Forensic Autopsy Cases of the Deaths Associated with Alcohol in Gwangju and Chonnam Area, Korea

Korean J Leg Med. 2010 May;34(1):20-26. Korean.

Department of Forensic Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea. khs7998@naver.com jtpark@jnu.ac.kr

Department of Pathology, SaintCarolloHospital, Sun-Cheon, Chonnam, Korea

Chonnam National University Law School, Gwangju, Korea

Alcohol is very popular and readily available among the population but is also known to be a toxic substance. Excessive alcohol ingestion can lead to death induced by acute intoxication. In addition, chronic alcohol ingestion can cause many diseases such as alcoholic liver disease and cardiomyopathy. Alcohol consumption is associated with many social incidents. For example, traffic accidents, murders, incendiary crimes and so on. Hence, alcohol should be considered as a significant and socially relevant substance. However, there is currently no statistical analysis about deaths associated with alcohol consumption in forensic autopsy cases. We analyzed forensic autopsy cases involving alcohol during 2007 to 2009 in Gwangju city and Jeollanamdo province, Korea. The following is the summary of the results. 1. The number of total cases in our department from 2007 to 2009 was 329. 2. Among the 329 cases, 314 cases were checked to have alcohol concentration levels. Alcohol related deaths were 118 cases (35.9%). 3. Among 118 cases, natural deaths were 27 (22.9%) and unnatural deaths were 91 cases (77.1%). 4. Deaths caused by alcohol intoxication were 9 cases (7.6%). The remaining 82 cases of unnatural deaths were as follows: suicides (18 cases, 22.0%), homicides (32 cases, 39.0%), accidents (24 cases, 29.3%), and undetermined (8 cases, 9.8%).

Key words : alcohol, death, forensic autopsy, statistical analysis

Original article