Criminal poisoning and the psychopathology of the poisoner

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Abstract
This paper examines both the historical and clinical aspects of deliberate poisoning and the psychopathology of the poisoner. The paper describes three contemporary phenomena of criminal poisoning: the intentional poisoning of children by parents; threats and acts of random mass poisoning; the poisoning of sick patients by hospital staff. Clinical vignettes of four alleged poisoners with an account of their individual psychopathology are presented. A tentative profile of some specific characteristics of the poisoner and his or her motive is drawn from these sources, together with a theoretical discussion of the available literature.

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