Forensic Toxicological Review of Suicide Agents Commonly Used in Developing Countries. Forensics and Crime (PDF)

Scientific Essay from the year 2023 in the subject Psychology - Forensic Psychology and Penal System, grade: A, University of Ibadan, course: Zoology, language: English, abstract: A review essay is written on the forensic toxicology of selected suicide agents commonly used in developing countries. The essay discusses suicide, it causes and agents used to commit suicide. Four commonly used suicide agents in developing countries namely sniper, laundry bleaching agents, paraquat and gammalin are discussed under the headings: chemical composition, toxicity in animals and man, uses, regulations and control. The essay concludes on the need to regulate these suicide agents.

Suicide is death caused by injuring oneself with the intent to die. A suicide attempt is when someone harms themselves with any intent to end their life, but they do not die as a result of their actions. Many factors can increase the risk for suicide or protect against it. Suicide is connected to other forms of injury and violence. For example, people who have experienced violence, including child abuse, bullying, or sexual violence have a higher suicide risk.

Globally, approximately one million people kill themselves every year. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared suicide a major global public health problem and called on member states to devise and implement national suicide prevention strategies. While suicide prevention is receiving increased attention in many developed countries, it remains largely ignored in developing countries, where a number of factors impede the implementation of successful preventive programmes.

The issue of whether suicide can be a good death was separated into two different questions: (1) can suicide be an appropriate death, and (2) can suicide be a rational death? Several definitions of an "appropriate" death were proposed, and suicide was seen as potentially appropriate. Similarly, several criteria for rationality were proposed and suicide was seen as sometimes meeting these criteria. Thus, suicide can be sometimes conceptualized as a "good" death.