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VOLUME 1 ISSUE 2 OCT- DEC 2025

Case Report

Sudden Death Following Ingestion of an Unlabeled Sexual-Enhancement Capsule: A Forensic Autopsy Case Report

Dr Jaspinder Pratap Singh, Dr Sunny Basra

A 28-year-old male was found dead and brought to the emergency department of Guru Nanak Dev Hospital, Amritsar, after being discovered unconscious in a hotel room where he had checked in with a female sex worker. The accompanying witness reported that the decedent ingested an unlabelled capsule claimed to be a sexual-performance enhancer and collapsed prior to any intercourse. Autopsy conducted at Government Medical College Amritsar demonstrated bluish discoloration of the lips, nail beds, and earlobe regions, marked visceral congestion, and deep gastric mucosal congestion with undigested food. Histopathology showed no intrinsic pathology. Toxicological screening was negative for routine poisons. Cause of death was certified as undetermined, with a possibility of unknown poisoning. This case highlights the increasing abuse of unregulated sexual-enhancement agents in Punjab, a region marked by high prevalence of synthetic-drug use. It brings to fore the need for expanding toxicology panels, increased public–patient education, and preventive strategies directed at extreme sexual-pleasure behavior.

Keywords: dangerous sexual practices, sexual enhancement, sudden unexplained death, novel psychoactive substances, autopsy

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