FSC239Y5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 21: Forensic Toxicology, Autopsy, Blood Alcohol Content
Document Summary
Forensic toxicology: study of the adverse effects of drugs and poisons on the human body and the application of this info to matters of the law. Culd the drug produc impairment of the individ"s psycjomotor abilities. How could drug use constribute to the incident. Drug testing: purpose: to determine presence/ absence and quality ( where applicable) of drugs, alcohol or poisons. Drug in body at time of collection or death. Obtained from ante mortem blood: drug in body at time of death: plasma. Obtained from ante mortem blood: drug in body at time of death. Post-mortem: drug in body at time of death: qualitative: urine* Ante or post mortem: indicates prior use: qualitative as drug concentrations in urine are not generally interpretable (exception: alcohol, ghb) Mostly- post-mortem: indicates ingestion but amount of drug in blood is not known: drug paraphernalia* Useful to guide investigation: doesn"t indicate whether drug was administered. Qualitative id of drugs or drug classes.
