Self-inflicted homicide is a term that might be used to describe a death resulting from an individual’s actions that lead to their own demise, but the phrase itself is contradictory and not commonly used in medical, legal, or psychological contexts. The word homicide refers specifically to the killing of one person by another, making it inherently different from acts that are self-inflicted. However, if used, this term might aim to describe certain unusual or complex scenarios.
In a clearer sense, self-inflicted refers to harm or actions that a person directly causes to themselves. When combined with the idea of homicide, it could be misinterpreted to mean a person intentionally or unintentionally caused their own death through actions such as recklessness, negligence, or self-destructive behavior. For example, a situation where someone sets off an explosive or causes a fatal accident while intending to harm others could, in some cases, be described as involving "self-inflicted" elements, though this does not meet the standard definition of homicide.
If used to describe intentional self-harm resulting in death, the correct term is suicide, which is the act of an individual deliberately ending their own life. Suicide is distinct from homicide because it involves no external perpetrator.