ISSN: 2573-1734
Authors: Zanuncio AV*, Rodrigues Diniz AC, Hermsdorff BS and Ferreira de Souza D
The practice of ingesting illicit substances to avoid detection by the police, known as Body Stuffing (BS), is a reality that poses significant risks to the health and safety of those involved. This article objective is to promote discussion about the challenges in identifying signs and symptoms in cases of BS, in addition to the importance of training the attending professional to identify the scenario, given its complex manifestation and the high mortality associated with this practice. This is a descriptive study reporting the case of a death from cocaine overdose following the practice of SB. The victim was a 24-year-old man, arrested by the police, who suffered a cardiorespiratory arrest when he was taken into custody by the Civil Police. The witnesses reported that he had ingested a package containing a white powder. The case analysis reports the sequence of conditions involved in this type of situation, ranging from diagnosis, treatment and identification of the cause of death. The autopsy examination confirmed the absence of fatal lesions and findings compatible with an overdose, obtained from the results of toxicological tests that confirmed high levels of cocaine in the body. The case analysis reinforces the need for a multidisciplinary approach to address the medical, legal and social complexities of this problem.
Keywords: Death; Cocaine; Body Stuffer
