Factors that delay discovery in cases of death at home in Japan

Legal Medicine 2026 Open access

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Authors: Yukie Yamasaki, Nanako Tamiya, Hideki Yamamoto, Masanobu Miura, Kaori Taniguchi, Chie Kobayashi, Masafumi Motomura, Ayako Himemiya‐Hakucho, Satoru Miyaishi
DOI: 10.1016/j.legalmed.2026.102895
Cited by: 1
References: 18

Abstract

In Japan, solitary deaths have become a social issue, with an increasing number of cases in which the body is discovered long after death. This study aimed to clarify the factors underlying such delays. Cases of death at home were extracted from forensic autopsies. In each case, we collected information about the deceased and their living conditions. The postmortem interval until finding (PMI-f) was calculated by measuring the time between death and discovery. We classified the cases into long PMI-f (LPMI-f; having PMI-f of ≥3 days) and short PMI-f (SPMI-f; having PMI-f of

Fields of Study & Subjects

Autopsy Techniques and Outcomes Organ Donation and Transplantation Grief Bereavement and Mental Health

Publication details

Journal / source
Legal Medicine
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Volume
84
Pages
102895–102895
Publication date
18 June 2026
Language
EN