Acid attacks in Cambodia: serious reminders of personal conflicts

ABSTRACT

Throwing highly corrosive acid into someone’s face to cause the deliberate destruction of an individual’s appearance is a serious assault. Some victims die as a result of the attack, some are blinded, and all have their facial features marred for life, causing severe social isolation and ostracism, and leading some victims to commit suicide years after the attack.  Acid attacks in Cambodia are commonplace occurrences a personal revenge for a variety of interpersonal disputes and perceived insults. Similar attacks occur in other developing countries, most especially in South and South-East Asia, and the first case occurring in Canada was recently reported in the press. Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC) has seen and treated at least 195 patients with acid burns since 1998, and some of the characteristics of the individual circumstances and the surgical care are discussed.