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The mechanism of death in positional
and inside of the body during an
asphyxia typically begins with the restriction
autopsy, to rule out other causes like
of chest and diaphragm movement. Normal
accidents, diseases, or attacks. This
breathing depends on the diaphragm moving
knowledge is key in cases involving
downward and the rib cage expanding to
police restraints, jail incidents, or
increase thoracic volume, allowing air to
suspicious deaths, as it guides fair
enter the lungs. When a person is in a
judgments on whether it was an
position that compresses the chest or
accident, suicide, murder, or
abdomen, such as being restrained face-
something else it also teaches people
down (prone) with weight applied to the
in law enforcement and medicine how
back, these movements are severely limited.
to avoid these risks, saving lives and
making sure justice is served based on

solid facts.
Food Asphyxia walked

into a bar…
Scene
For And immediately

Investigation realized it
Thought couldn’t breathe.

In Positional

Asphyxia

The forensic investigation of

suspected positional asphyxia, a
thorough and meticulous

examination of the scene is essential,
beginning with the precise
documentation of the body’s position
Image 1:Image showing the dead body of a
at the time of discovery. The victim
male in an unusual position
may be found in a variety of postures
Source: https://doi.org/10.18231/j.ijfcm.2024.038
that can severely compromise
breathing, such as lying prone with
Autopsy Findings
the face pressed into a surface,
kneeling with the torso folded In the autopsy examination of a positional

forward, squatting in a confined area, asphyxia case, external and internal findings
or wedged between objects like a bed must be documented. As they clear the path
and wall. for finding the mechanism of death, they
also find observations at the scene.