Dying to be with yew

Abstract Taxus baccata (yew) is an easily accessible plant that can cause rapidly fatal cardiotoxicity upon ingestion. While it has been documented as both a method of suicide and homicide, such cases may be underreported due to the difficulty of recognition. Toxicity of the yew is due to the alkaloids Taxine A and Taxine B, both of which form 3,5-dimethoxyphenol metabolite. Neither alkaloids nor the metabolite is detected by routine drug screening. Here, we present a case of suicide by yew ingestion. 3,5-dimethoxyphenol was detected in gastric contents, postmortem blood and urine by two mass spectrophotometric techniques including high resolution mass spectrometry. The gastric contents contained a green, needlelike substance consistent with the yew plant. Utilizing broad spectrum screening by mass spectrometry along with comprehensive history may result in early detection of yew toxicity, facilitate treatment of cardiotoxicity, and improve survival.