The epistemology of death: psychological autopsy, artificial intelligence, and forensic decision-making in equivocal deaths

The epistemology of death: psychological autopsy, artificial intelligence, and forensic decision-making in equivocal deaths

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1900172

Publish Date: 2026-07-09 03:44:00

Source Domain: www.frontiersin.org

Here’s a concise summary of the article with key points highlighted as bullet points:

• Definition and Purpose:

  • Psychological autopsy is a retrospective approach to reconstruct the mental state and circumstances leading to death, especially useful in equivocal cases where the cause of death isn’t clear.
  • Emphasizes understanding the intention behind death through behavioral patterns, emotional states, and psychosocial circumstances.

• Methodological Considerations:

  • Variability exists due to lack of standardized protocols; reconstruction relies on interviews, medical records, and behavioral data.
  • Involves triangulated data for a more accurate reconstruction but is still probabilistic due to recall, selection, and reconstruction biases.

• Socio-Psychological Dynamics:

  • Influence of social structures and media on suicidal behavior, with concepts like the Werther and Papageno Effects.
  • Risk factors include social isolation, perceived burdensomeness, and diminished belongingness.

• Temporal Dynamics:

  • Focus on the “presuicidal syndrome” characterized by cognitive and emotional changes prior to death; challenging due to nonlinearity and heterogeneity in behavioral changes.

• Advancements in Artificial Intelligence and Digital Forensics:

  • Digital data provides extensive behavioral records but relies heavily on machine learning algorithms.
  • Challenges include algorithmic bias, generalization, and interpretative overreach.

• Epistemological and Ethical Challenges:

  • Subject to recall biases and ethical concerns about privacy and consent.
  • Operates on probabilistic reasoning rather than deterministic conclusions.
  • Ethical governance needed for digital data stewardship, particularly post-mortem.

• Legal Status in Turkey:

  • Psychological autopsy is not codified but utilized flexibly in expert opinions.
  • Judicial decisions show increased recognition of mental state evaluation in equivocal deaths.
  • Legal ambiguities and lack of standardized protocols affect consistency and reproducibility.

• Conclusion:

  • Psychological autopsy bridges forensic inference and computational augmentation, but relies on structured interpretive frameworks.
  • Complemented by AI and digital data but cannot replace human clinical judgment.
  • Legal and ethical frameworks need development to regulate post-mortem data rights and digital evidence admissibility.

• Keywords:

  • artificial intelligence, equivocal deaths, forensic psychology, psychological autopsy, suicide research