DOI: https://doi.org/10.14710/dmj.v15i1.53109

MEDICOLEGAL AND ETHICAL ASPECTS OF A DEATH CASE DUE TO EPILEPSY: CLINICAL CASE, CLINICAL FORENSICS, OR FORENSIC PATHOLOGY?

*Adji Suwandono orcid scopus publons  -  Department of Forensics and Medicolegal, Faculty of Medicine, Sebelas Maret University, Surakarta, Indonesia , Indonesia
Hedva Rayna Hitipeuw  -  Medical Profession, Faculty of Medicine, Sebelas Maret University, Surakarta, Indonesia, Indonesia
Funica Asri Rachmawaty  -  Medical Profession, Faculty of Medicine, Sebelas Maret University, Surakarta, Indonesia, Indonesia
Sandy Adi Nugraha Pratama  -  Medical Profession, Faculty of Medicine, Sebelas Maret University, Surakarta, Indonesia, Indonesia
Alfonsus Aryo Sunu Bakti  -  Medical Profession, Faculty of Medicine, Sebelas Maret University, Surakarta, Indonesia, Indonesia
Open Access Copyright 2025 Adji Suwandono
Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Abstract

Background: An unwitnessed death in a man with epilepsy, found in a bathroom with a head injury and immersion, raises key clinical and forensic concerns. This case highlights the complex intersection between epilepsy-related death, head trauma, and possible drowning. Case Presentation: A 39-year-old man with a history of epilepsy was found unconscious in the bathtub, face down with his head submerged and a bleeding forehead wound, approximately 10 minutes after showering. The man had a history of monthly generalized tonic-clonic seizures with recurrent falls and head injuries, and was on regular antiepileptic medicine. On admission, he was unresponsive with a GCS of E1V1M1, absent vital signs, dilated pupils, decreased skin temperature, and a laceration wound on the forehead. An ECG showed asystole. Conclusion: This case reviews the high risk of sudden death in patients with epilepsy, likely involving seizure-induced trauma and possible drowning. It emphasizes the need for comprehensive epilepsy management and thorough medicolegal evaluation to determine the cause of death.

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Keywords: epilepsy, epilepsy-related death, sudden unexpected death in epilepsy, head trauma, drowning, asphyxia
Funding: Hedva Rayna Hitipeuw, Funica Asri Rachmawaty, Sandy Adi Nugraha Pratama, Alfonsus Aryo Sunu Bakti

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Section: Case Report
Language : EN
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