In this article I consider the increasing use of the “rough sex” defence by men who kill women in trials of murder. In demonstrating the prevalence of this defence I examine the defence tactics of pleading accident and traducing the character of the dead by invoking the excuse that the deceased consented to the acts which contributed to her death. I examine the impact of this defence strategy on jury determination and return of convictions for unlawful manslaughter rather than murder. The notion that women in these situations have contributed to their own demise is a redolent oeuvre in pornography but also has roots in psychoanalysis and medicine. Stereotypes of women’s sexuality as defined by men continue to inform contemporary thinking skewing male violence against women as an outcome that women desire. Legal attempts to reform the law are examined and challenges to the representation of women in popular culture are called for.

We describe a previously asymptomatic 7-year-old girl with a sudden cardiac arrest during elective pacemaker revision. Later imaging identified epicardial pacemaker lead strangulation of the left anterior descending and left circumflex coronary arteries. Anaesthetic induction led to a reduction in myocardial perfusion, precipitating the arrest. Extreme care should be taken during anaesthesia if cardiac strangulation is suspected.

Amber teething necklaces supposedly provide analgesia for teething infants. Their use is becoming more widespread, despite lack of peer-reviewed evidence and warnings from Health Canada that they pose a strangulation and aspiration risk. To date, there have been no published reports of strangulation secondary to amber teething necklaces. In this report we present a case of non-fatal infant strangulation from the first time use of an amber teething necklace. We will also discuss the role of physicians as advocates in reporting similar cases and educating families. Finally, we will comment on the responsibility of all professionals and professional organizations that work with infants and toddlers to advocate for children by raising concerns and counselling parents.