Ethical considerations within Forensic Science

Question 1

What is dry labbing in the context of unethical procedures in Forensic science?

Answer 1

• Dry labbing is where the forensic scientists only tests a small selection of samples, but then deems them all as testing positive for illegal drugs.
• This is done to improve productivity and analyse evidence more quickly.

Question 2

Who was Annie Dookhan?

Answer 2

• She was a former chemist from Massechusetts who was responsible for the state having to dismiss hundreds of criminal cases where she falsified drug results.
• She was sentenced to three-five years in prison in 2013 after pleading guilty, after originally pleading not guilty.
• She also pleaded guilty to falsely claiming she had a master’s degree in chemistry.

Question 3

What scam did Annie Dookhan take part in?

Answer 3

Annie Dookhan admitted to “dry labbing”, where she would only test a small selection of samples, but then deem them all as testing positive for illegal drugs, to “improve her productivity and burnish her reputation”.

Question 4

What were the consequences of her actions?

Answer 4

At least 1,100 criminal cases had to be dismissed.

The extent of the dry labbing was so vast that the laboratory had to be shut down in 2012.

She was ordered to have mental health evaluations after leaving prison.