Abstract

It is well established that drinking alcohol increases the risk of fatal injuries. The presence of blood alcohol in autopsied deaths is regularly encountered in medico-legal practices. The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence and concentration of alcohol in 1731 medico-legal autopsies that were conducted in the National Institute of Forensic Medicine (NIFM), Jordan from January 2007 to December 2007, and to report acute alcohol influence on these deaths. A total of 63 cases were identified according to the concentration of alcohol. These cases were analyzed for possibilities of acute alcohol influence as either the underlying or contributory causes of death. Furthermore, the cases were pertained according to age, sex, manner of death, and specific cause of death. Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) ranged from (10 to 541 mg/dl). BAC of more than or equal to 50 mg/dl was found in (65%, n=41). It was concluded that post-mortem BAC more than or equal to 50 mg/dl should be regarded as possible contributory factor in all medico-legal cases, that were autopsied.

Key words: Alcohol, medico-legal cases, Jordan.