Medicolegal evaluation of hanging cases (Sanliurfa-Turkey)

Aim: Hanging is a common and highly lethal method of suicide worldwide.This study aims to describe the demographic, clinical, and outcome characteristics of hanging cases admitted to anlurfa Harran University Hospital over 10 years.Materials and methods: A retrospective review was conducted on 34 patients admitted between 2015 and 2024 due to hanging incidents.Data on age, sex, psychiatric history, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) at admission, materials used, and outcomes were analyzed.Results: The mean age was 26.7 years, with 64.7% male patients.Suicide attempts accounted for 82.4% of cases.Half of the patients died either at admission or during hospitalization.A low GCS score (3-8) was strongly associated with mortality.Notably, 38.2% of cases were under 18 years old.Rope was the most frequently used material.Psychiatric history was documented in a minority of cases, and all surviving patients received psychiatric evaluation before discharge.Discussion: Hanging remains a major public health concern due to its high mortality rate, particularly affecting younger populations.Early clinical assessment using GCS is critical for prognosis.Enhanced mental health support and prevention efforts targeting vulnerable populations are urgently needed.Larger studies are needed to better understand this issue and to help improve patient care.