Maya Ellison
Plastic bags are a known cause of accidental death, especially among children playing with shopping bags and adolescents misusing solvents. However, they have also been used in suicides and homicides. While it is not a common method of suicide, asphyxiation with a plastic bag can be effective, especially when combined with other methods such as solvent abuse, self-poisoning, or the inhalation of inert gases. The use of plastic bags in suicides has been promoted by euthanasia-rights advocacy groups and how-to publications, leading to an increase in suicides by this method. Autopsy findings in cases of plastic bag suffocation are usually minimal, and the direct cause of death can be difficult to trace if the bag is removed before the investigation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Can a plastic bag be used as a murder weapon? | Yes, but it is more commonly used as a suicide method. |
| How does it work? | Suffocation, blocking the mouth and nose from inhaling air. |
| How common is it? | Uncommon, but there have been at least 110 recorded cases in Ontario, Canada, between 1993 and 1997. |
| Who is most at risk? | Older people, particularly women. |
| What are the difficulties in determining cause of death? | Forensic investigations may be challenging if the plastic bag is removed post-mortem. Petechiae, a marker of asphyxiation, is only present in 3% of cases. |
| What are the chances of survival? | If the bag is removed quickly, the person will likely survive. |
| Are there ways to increase the chances of death? | Yes, using sedatives to prevent the person from removing the bag due to nausea caused by carbon dioxide build-up. |
| Are there other methods used in conjunction with a plastic bag? | Inhaling gases such as propane, ethyl ether, chloroform, or nitrous oxide. |
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What You'll Learn
Suffocation by a plastic bag is possible
The effectiveness of this method depends on several factors. Firstly, if the bag is big enough to fit over one's head, there would typically be a large gap around the neck, allowing oxygen to enter. However, if the gaps around the neck are closed off, suffocation becomes a real possibility. The size of the bag and the tightness of its seal around the neck are crucial factors.
The use of a plastic bag as a murder weapon is also influenced by the victim's ability to fight back. If the victim is an adult without serious disabilities and can remove the bag or create gaps for airflow, they will likely survive. However, if someone else holds the bag tightly closed around the victim's neck, it could result in death. The longer the bag remains in place, the more oxygen deprivation occurs, leading to panic and decreased physical ability to fight back.
Plastic bags are also used in suicide cases, sometimes in conjunction with other substances or methods. For instance, in a case reported in Athens, Greece, a 49-year-old man committed suicide by placing a plastic bag over his head and inhaling ether. The use of plastic bags in suicide has been promoted by euthanasia-rights advocacy groups, who provide detailed instructions and even sell kits that include bags and gas canisters. This method is often chosen for its perceived peacefulness and the difficulty in determining the cause of death if the apparatus is removed afterward.
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It is more likely to be successful if someone else does it
It is possible to kill someone with a plastic bag, though it is not a common method of murder or suicide. If you are attempting to murder someone with a plastic bag, it is more likely to be successful if someone else does it.
If you try to kill yourself with a plastic bag, you will likely survive due to the "fight or flight" instinct kicking in. This instinct will cause you to panic and struggle to free yourself. However, if someone else holds the bag tightly closed around your neck, you may not be able to fight them off immediately. As time passes, you will have less oxygen and weaker muscles, making it even harder to escape.
In the case of murder, the perpetrator can ensure the plastic bag is securely fastened around the victim's neck, making it more challenging for the victim to remove it. Additionally, the perpetrator can use their weight and strength to restrain the victim, making it difficult for them to break free.
Plastic bag suffocation becomes even more dangerous when combined with other substances or methods. For example, some people use plastic bags with helium or other gases to commit suicide, making it harder to detect the cause of death during a forensic investigation. This method is often promoted by euthanasia-rights advocacy groups and has been the subject of various guides on the internet, in print, and on video.
While it may be challenging to murder someone with a plastic bag, it is not impossible. The success of such an attempt depends on factors such as the victim's physical strength, ability to fight back, and the tightness of the bag around their neck.
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Suicide bags are a form of euthanasia
Suicide bags, also known as exit bags or hoods, are a form of euthanasia. They are large plastic bags with a drawcord or an adjustable velcro strip around the neck. They are used to die by suicide through inert gas asphyxiation, which is usually painless and fast. Inert gases such as helium or nitrogen are breathed in, and the continued breathing expels carbon dioxide, preventing panic, a sense of suffocation, and struggling before unconsciousness. This is known as the hypercapnic alarm response caused by high carbon dioxide concentrations in the blood.
Suicide by a plastic bag without the use of inert gases is also possible but is a rarely described method. This method is more likely to be successful if the bag is held by another person, as the instinct to survive may kick in and the person would fight to remove the bag.
Suicide bags were first recorded in the 1990s, and since the 2000s, their use has increased due to the spread of guides on the internet, in print, and on video. In 2002, the euthanasia-rights advocacy group Exit Australia distributed a manufactured version of the bag in Australia, alarming government officials and anti-abortion groups. The Australian chapter of Right to Life expressed concern that they would be used by vulnerable people.
The use of suicide bags with inert gases makes the direct cause of death difficult to trace if the bag and gas canister are removed before the investigation. While asphyxiation by helium can be detected at autopsy, there is currently no test to detect asphyxiation by nitrogen. Therefore, nitrogen is commonly preferred by those who do not want the cause of death established.
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Asphyxiation with a plastic bag is more common in the elderly
Asphyxiation with a plastic bag is a method of suicide that has been reported before but remains unusual. However, it is important to note that its incidence is growing due to the dissemination of information on suicide methods on online platforms. This poses significant challenges for suicide prevention efforts.
While asphyxiation with a plastic bag can be a method of suicide, it is also important to consider accidental deaths, especially among children who play with plastic bags and adolescents who abuse solvents. The combination of a plastic bag and solvent abuse can lead to accidental asphyxiation.
Demographic analyses reveal distinct patterns, with younger age groups demonstrating an increased tendency for gas inhalation suicides. However, advanced age is also a significant risk factor for completed suicide. In a study of 110 cases of suicidal asphyxiation using a plastic bag in Ontario, Canada, between 1993 and 1997, more than half of the victims (54.5%) were over 60 years of age. This indicates that asphyxiation with a plastic bag may be more prevalent among the elderly.
The lethality of this method can be increased by combining it with inert gases like helium or nitrogen, which are lighter or less dense than air. The accessibility and perceived painlessness of these gases contribute to their rising usage for suicide. The use of a plastic bag with inert gas as a method of suicide was first recorded in the 1990s, and its frequency has increased with the spread of information through the internet, print, and video.
The plastic bag and inert gas method can lead to a rapid loss of consciousness and cardiorespiratory arrest. It can be challenging to determine the cause of death in these cases, especially if the apparatus is removed before the investigation. This complexity is further exacerbated by the involvement of confined spaces and the depletion of oxygen within the inhaled air.
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Plastic bags are more likely to kill children and solvent abusers
Plastic bags can be used as a tool for murder, suicide, and accidental death. While the risk of death for adults is low, plastic bags are more likely to kill children and solvent abusers.
Children under one year of age are particularly vulnerable to suffocation from plastic bags. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that plastic bags kill about 25 American children per year, with almost 90% of them being infants. This accounts for about 0.1% of US infant mortality. The risk arises when infants crawl or fall into large trash or dry-cleaning bags, or pull them over their faces. The danger is not limited to infants, as children of any age can accidentally suffocate while playing with plastic bags.
Solvent abusers are another group at risk of accidental death from plastic bag suffocation. In one case, a 49-year-old man committed suicide by inhaling ether through a plastic bag. The concentration of ether in his blood was within the range of surgical anesthesia, leading to death by asphyxiation. While this method of suicide is unusual, it has been promoted by some websites and publications.
Although the overall rate of death by plastic bag suffocation is low, it is important to recognize that certain groups, such as children and solvent abusers, are more vulnerable to accidental death from this cause.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, it is possible to murder someone with a plastic bag by suffocating them. However, it is more common that people use plastic bags to commit suicide.
If the bag is tied tightly around the neck, blocking the mouth and nose from inhaling air, it can result in death.
Plastic bag suffocation as a method of suicide is unusual but not uncommon. It is more common among older people, especially women, and those with serious illnesses.
In many cases, drugs or alcohol are also involved. The use of sedatives is also common, as it helps to prevent the person from removing the bag due to nausea from the exhaled carbon dioxide.
It can be difficult to determine the cause of death if the plastic bag is removed before an investigation. However, in some cases, petechiae may be present, which is considered a marker of asphyxiation.
