17 Forensic Toxicology Flashcards
1
Q
Definition of forensic toxicology
A
The science of detecting and identifying the presence of drugs and poisons in body fluids, tissues and organs.
The use of toxicology for purpose of law to investigate the death by toxicologist (accidental poisoning, drug abuse cases, suicidal poisonings, homicidal poisonings)
2
Q
Toxicological of tissue
A
- collect sample of all body fluids
- collect sample from organs and tissue
- in decomposed bodies infested with maggot and in the absence of tissue or fluid, diphtheria and arthropods can be used an alternative specimen for toxicological analyses. (Also called as entomotoxicology)
3
Q
Information supplied to lab.
A
- personal detailed (age, sex, occupation)
- brief details of sx and length of illness
- postmortem interval and actual date and time of sample
- list of sample provided
- nature of preservative
4
Q
Technique to obtain autopsy sample
A
- analysis of volatile substance: lung (nylon bag)
- blood
Body tissue
Bile
Csf
Intestinal content
Urine
Stomach contact
Vomit
5
Q
Site to take
A
- take at peripheral vein blood
- avoid heart blood as there could be contamination from adjacent stomach tru post mortem
- if decomposed, from liver
6
Q
Forensic toxicology cases
A
- alcohol
- carbon monoxide
- narcotic/hallucinogenic drugs
- organophosphate and paraquat
- corrosive and non corrosive agent
- medical medicine
- organic solvent
7
Q
Acts involve with drunk driving
A
- road traffic act
- penal code act
8
Q
How is the process if police suspect someone is drunk
A
- take breathalyser test
- Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) measured by the content of alcohol in persons system. Legal limit is 0.08 per cent which means 80m per 100ml of blood
9
Q
Mode of death in acute alcoholism
A
- direct depressive effect on brainstem
- secondary event such as aspiration of vomit, road traffic accident. Fall from height and drowning
10
Q
Mode of death for chronic alcoholism
A
- neglect and malnutrition
- obese/edematous from chronic heart failure
- fatty change in liver which lead to micronodular cirrhosis
- enlarge spleen with portal varices at gastro-esophageal junction
- alcoholic cardiomyopathy
11
Q
Carbon monoxide poisoning
A
Cherry pink colour
