A review of suicides by burning in Rome between 1947-1997 examined by the Pathology Department of the Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Rome 'La Sapienza'.

The 34 cases of suicide by self-immolation admitted to the Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Rome 'La Sapienza', during a 50-year period (1947-1997) were investigated. The nature of this phenomenon in relation to sex, age of the victims, location of the suicides and combination of methods used is discussed. Finally the distribution and extent and characteristics of the lesions are considered from a forensic point of view.