IC :
BDSM Dictionary : Autoerotic asphyxiation: history
A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z
This entry is part of the BDSM Dictionary hosted by Informed Consent.
Autoerotic asphyxiation is the practice of self-strangulation, typically by the use of a ligature, while masturbating, the decrease of blood to the brain is said to heighten the sexual pleasure. It is an extremely dangerous practice that results in many deaths each year. Deaths often occur when the loss of consciousness caused by partial asphyxia leads to loss of control over the means of strangulation, resulting in continued asphyxia and death. It has also been speculated that in some cases autoerotic asphyxiation may have triggered the little-known phenomenon of carotid sinus reflex death. Victims are often found to have rigged some sort of "rescue mechanism" which has not worked in the way they anticipated as they lost consciousness.
It is a popular subject in tabloids and celebrity gossip magazines, particularly when a celebrity dies as a result of suicide or other mysterious circumstances. Such was reputedly the case with the deaths of Jerzy Kosinski (in 1991) and Michael Hutchence (in 1997), though no evidence to support the claim was produced in either case.
The death in 1994 of Stephen Milligan, the British Conservative MP for Eastleigh, was a case of auto-erotic asphyxiation combined with self-bondage, this combination is particularly lethal. A more recent case is the death in 2004 of BN and National Front member Kristian Etchells.
http://menmedia.co.uk/oldhamadvertiser/news/s/47... ber_died_during_sex_act
An accidental death due to autoerotic asphyxiation is an important plot element in the film "The Ruling Class" (1972), starring Peter O'Toole. It is also depicted in the movie "Ken Park". The book "Acquisition of Power" by Erika Barr (ISBN 1591293073) also touches on the subject.
Recent court cases have come to varied results as to whether the
unintentional death resulting from autoerotic asphyxiation falls under
the "self-induced injury" clause of standard life insurance policies,
which prevents payouts for suicide. In June of 2003, one US court
said the intent was not death and therefore the case was an accident
http://home.aigonline.com/content/0,1109,15975-1...
legal,00.html, while another in August 2003 said it does technically
fall within the terms since death is the logical result of
asphyxiation
http://home.aigonline.com/content/0,1109,16158-1....See also
(This entry in the BDSM Dictionary incorporates text from the Autoerotic asphyxiation article in Wipipedia.)
This entry is published under the terms of the GFDL. People with profiles on Informed Consent can improve this entry: see the BDSM Dictionary help page for details.
