[Medical opinions on fatal auto-erotic accidents for insurance purposes (author's transl)]. 1975

W Naeve

The problematic nature of medico-legal opinions on fatal auto-erotic accidents made for private accident insurance companies is outlined in a survey based on our own records. Taking the "General Insuranc Terms for Accident Insurance" (AUB) into consideration, guidelines for the forming of such opinions are given. One is warned not to form summary opinions. Decisive is the insured's state of conciousness when the accident was triggered. Only in exceptional cases can an insurance covered accident be rejected because of a body injury inflicted by the insured on himself (see article). These actions do not usually result in external injury to the body. Experience proves that "ideal conditions" for forming an opinion are rarely given. Also, the nature of the death situation is such that often the corpse is discovered only days after death. From the outset, forming a medical opinion is beset with varying degrees of difficulty depending upon which category of auto-erotic activities the accident falls into: 1. direct stimulation of the erotic regions, 2. stimulation of sexual centers in the central nervous system, 3. the creation of fear and anguish in the context of masochistic perversion. According the presently valid insurance terms (AUB), cases of auto-erotic electrocution are to be regarded as covered. A disturbance of consciousness--with the exception of such disturbances following the influence of alcohol, medicines or narcotics--cannot be assumed for the moment in which the accident was triggered. At this moment body "integrity" was also intact. Accidents through strangulation, respectively asphyxiation (plastic bags etc.), usually occur during a disturbance of consciousness of the victim. This disturbance is the result of cerebral hypoxia, that is a result of strangulation, respectively external respiratory obstruction. The forming of a medical opinion for insurance purposes on auto-erotic accidents with clearly recognizable masochistic tendency is particularly difficult. A medical decision is only possible when an exact examination and description of the scene of the accident are available. In these instances, mechanical devices rigged by the victim often do not permit with sufficient probability to exclude the possibility of an accident without disturbance of consciousness on the part of the insured.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007346 Insurance, Accident Insurance providing coverage for physical injury suffered as a result of unavoidable circumstances. Accident Insurance,Accident Insurances,Insurances, Accident
D007878 Legislation as Topic Works about the enactment of laws and ordinances and their regulation by official organs of a nation, state, or other legislative organization. It refers also to health-related laws and regulations in general or for which there is no specific descriptor. Health Legislation,Constitutional Amendments,Health Legislation as Topic,Laws and Statutes,Legislation, Health,Model Legislation,Population Law,Statutes and Laws,Amendment, Constitutional,Amendments, Constitutional,Constitutional Amendment,Law, Population,Laws, Population,Legislation, Model,Population Laws
D008398 Masochism Pleasure derived from being physically or psychologically abused, whether inflicted by oneself or by others. Masochism includes sexual masochism. Sexual Masochism,Masochism, Sexual,Masochisms,Masochisms, Sexual,Sexual Masochisms
D010262 Paraphilic Disorders Disorders that include recurrent, intense sexually arousing fantasies, sexual urges, or behaviors generally involving nonhuman objects, suffering of oneself or partners, or children or other nonconsenting partners. (from DSM-V) Paraphilias,Sex Deviations,Deviation, Sex,Deviations, Sex,Disorder, Paraphilic,Disorders, Paraphilic,Paraphilia,Paraphilic Disorder,Sex Deviation
D003072 Cognition Disorders Disorders characterized by disturbances in mental processes related to learning, thinking, reasoning, and judgment. Overinclusion,Disorder, Cognition,Disorders, Cognition
D003243 Consciousness Sense of awareness of self and of the environment. Consciousnesses
D004556 Electric Injuries Injuries caused by electric currents. The concept excludes electric burns (BURNS, ELECTRIC), but includes accidental electrocution and electric shock. Electrocution, Accidental,Injuries, Electric,Accidental Electrocution,Accidental Electrocutions,Electric Injury,Electrocutions, Accidental,Injury, Electric
D005104 Expert Testimony Presentation of pertinent data by one with special skill or knowledge representing mastery of a particular subject. Expert Opinion,Expert Witness,Expert Opinions,Expert Testimonies,Expert Witnesses,Opinion, Expert,Testimony, Expert,Witness, Expert,Witnesses, Expert
D005739 Gas Poisoning Poisoning that results from exposure to gases such as CARBON MONOXIDE; NOBLE GASES; OXYGEN; or NATURAL GAS. Poisoning, Gas,Gas Poisonings,Poisonings, Gas
D005860 Germany, West The former Federal Republic of Germany which was reunified with the former German Democratic Republic in 1990. Federal Republic of Germany,Germany, Federal Republic of

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