Self-inflicted incised wounds and hesitation marks
THE CONTEXT
Patterns, accessible sites and tentative cuts help characterize self-inflicted wounds, although a suicidal fatal incision can be large and gaping.
Pattern and accessible sites
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Self-inflicted wounds are described as multiple and parallel or nearly parallel within one area, uniform in depth and direction, and relatively minor.
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Fatal wounds occur in limited accessible areas, including the front of the neck, wrists and groin, and occasionally the back of the legs or chest.
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The sites of election for suicidal incised wounds are the throat, wrist and front of the chest.
Hesitation marks and fatal incisions
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Hesitation marks, also called tentative cuts or trial wounds, are multiple small superficial cuts, often limited to the skin, at the beginning of an incised wound.
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Preliminary incisions are commonly superficial and multiple, but may be few when inflicted with some violence.
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Fatal incisions are usually made with great violence. A large, gaping suicidal wound should not be mistaken for a homicidal wound solely because of its appearance.
Cuts from gripping the blade
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Use of a safety razor blade may cause unintentional cuts on the fingers where the blade is gripped.