Forensic toxicology is one of the oldest disciplines in forensic science history and dates back hundreds of years. However, the actual understanding and examination of forensic toxicology only dates back for about 200 years. Due to the development of technology, this discipline has been able to progress and flourish. The term forensic toxicology is defined as examination of all aspects of toxicity that may have legal implications (James & Nordby, 2009 p. 61). In the past, poisoning was one of the most popular forms of murder. There are countless natural substances in the world that when ingested into the body in high doses, can become lethal to the human body. What made this form of murder so famous is that most poisons mimic common medical diseases, leading physicians to believe a victim died of natural causes (Ramsland, n.d.). Aside from murder, this forensic discipline is also essential for determining accidental deaths and suicides. As stated earlier, forensic toxicology is the examination of toxic substances in human tissues, organs, and body fluids that may have contributed or caused death to an individual (Tilstone, Savage, Clark, …show more content…
This form of testing is used for determining if an individual is inebriated or not. James and Nordby (2009) stated that an equilibrium exists between alcohol in the bloodstream and alcohol in the lung such that, on average, the concentration of blood alcohol is 2100 times greater than the concentration of breath alcohol (p. 63). Since this equilibrium exists, one can measure the breath alcohol and infer the corresponding alcohol concentration in the bloodstream (James & Nordby, 2009 p. 63). An advantage of this form of testing is that it can be conducted without drawing a blood sample and testing it. This allows personnel such as police officers to test individuals on the spot versus having to take someone in and draw a blood sample and wait for results to come
Most medical experts often had to supplement their findings with more conventional detective work. Rob Rapley recounts the famous cases of the day including the factory workers who painted glow in the dark watch dials with radium paint. Women who worked in these factories were unknowingly being poisoned as they put their brushes in their mouths to touch up the point. Since women were dying years after having access to the paint, it was hard to tell whether or not they died from the paint at work or from another cause. It wasn’t until Gettler ran tests on a woman’s bones five years after her death and found radium still remaining in her bones. Also, a man named Mike Malloy miraculously survived tragic situations such as being run over by a taxi and being fed rotten food before finally dying from poisonous gas. The cause of his death, however, was not spontaneous and was a result of money hunger than those who insured him shared. This models that murderers used poison to commit crimes in search of money. One pair of murderers, exculpated by Gettler’s evidence in 1924, was finally caught in 1936, when they killed again using the same poison.
A body was found with no identification was found on the body. An external examination of the body found numerous needle marks and bruising and thrombosed veins in the cubital fossae. The head showed evidence of a blunt trauma and small paint and metal fragments were removed from the wound. Analysis of the contents in the stomach found a few partially digested potato chips and some partially digested pills. A small amount of residue was extracted from the tin for analysis. Footprints were evident on the carpet where soil had been tracked in. Soil samples were collected from theses footprints. This analysis will show how Infra-red spectroscopy and Chromatography would be useful in finding both the cause of murder and possibly who the culprit was.
When a death occurs suddenly, unexpectedly and from unnatural or unknown causes, a forensic scientist has the duty to gather and analyze evidence to determine whether the victim died from a previously undiagnosed disease or infection or from a homicide, suicide or accident (Lurigio, 2009). When considering suicide as the probable cause of death, we are looking at the act of intentionally killing oneself through one’s own effort or with the assistance of another (Sever, 2009). The resolution of the manner of death by a forensic pathologist as suicide is based on a series of factors which eliminate natural causes of death, homicide and accident (Geberth, 2013, p.55). The cause of death is also determined by the medical examiner in conjunction with the crime scene investigator; however, it can only be determined after a thorough investigation is concluded. Therefore, in the complicated process of doing a death investigation there are several mistakes that should be avoided, which are discussed in Geberth’s article, Seven Mistakes in Suicide Investigation (2013). Mistakes in doing any death investigation affect the integrity of the evidence in determining the cause of death and in its admissibility in court.
The 'Secondary' of the 'Secon Introduction to toxicology (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Taylor & Francis.
In all cases in which the cause of death cannot be determined, a medico-legal autopsy is done. In a nutshell, a medico-legal autopsy serves to help explain a legal question surrounding the death in question e.g. is the manner of death natural, unnatural or undetermined? Was someone else involved? What were the circumstances leading to death? Therefore, in addition to the results and findings of the autopsy, other findings such as those from the crime scene also play big role in helping to determine what really happened.
I feel that the wounds explain what happened in a story in a wrongful death, it all depends on the wounds and where and when the victim was shot. From the direction of the gunshot; the wounds of Mr. Jones indicate that he was shot in the back and he never saw the suspect coming towards him with a gun, because his back was turned to the suspect. According to Orthman, Hess, “The victim’s background provides information about whether the death was an accident, suicide or homicide. If a homicide, the background often provides leads to a suspect. Evidence on the victim’s body can also provide important leads.” (Orthman, Hess, 2013).
Ever since ancient times , poisons have been used for many purposes across the extent of human existence. Throughout its history , poisons/venoms were first used by ancient tribes & civilizations as a hunting tool to ensure a quick death of their prey. As the years progress , venoms were commonly used in fictional films , initially starting out in the United States. Venoms are poisonous substances that come from venomous creatures such as snakes & spiders. Most of the times, when venoms/poisons are used in movies , it is categorized as Sci - Fi. The reason being is because usually the toxins being used are fictional and whom the toxin used by , the toxin turns them (character) into a supernatural character with supernatural abilities. If this is not the case , then the toxin does what it’s suppose to do , which is to poison the victim and kills he/she.
The other elements that may contaminate the crime scene may include but isn’t limited to: officers responding to the crime scene, paramedics, and other emergency personnel that come in contact with important
In today’s time, modern Crime Scene Investigation has increased rapidly. From throughout the late 1900’s and in the early 2000’s (Taylor 1). For all of the evidence that they find, a solid foundation has formed over the thousands of years of Crime Scene
Stokes, W.S. “Animals and the 3 R’s on Toxicology Research and Testing.” Human and Experimental Toxicology December 2015: 7. Academic Search Premier. Web. 14 February
Forensic pathologists are the people who determine the cause and time of death if the deceased person died under suspicious circumstances, whether they be violent or not. They determine if the death was accidental, a homicide, natural, a suicide, or even if the cause of death was unknown. They do this by studying said victim’s medical history, evaluating the crime scene for evidence, studying the body for any clues, and performing an autopsy. After determining the cause, time, and the manner in which the victim died, forensic pathologists make a written report on the victim and sometimes testify in court to report their findings.
A crime scene investigator is the individual who arrives at a crime scene and not only searches and preserves evidence located on the crime scene, but also sends off evidence that may assist in determining the identity of victims and murders to the appropriate personnel. This individual implements several of methods in order to gather the appropriate evidence. Some of the ways that they gather the evidence is by lifting fingerprints, gathering blood, gathering saliva, gathering any hand written documents, taking photos of tattoos, gathering teeth, gathering hair and so much more. These individuals truly play a huge role in the discovery of the individual’s identity. Although crime scene investigators carry an important role in gathering data it is also important to look at what methods are used and how they can lead to the discovery of a deceased individual’s
No matter what the case, forensic science has monumentally changed criminal investigation. From computer technology to fingerprint analysis, forensic science has played a key role in thousands of cases. The partnership between the law and forensic sciences has changed the justice system like no other investigative tool: the intelligence provided by this technology is instrumental for both exonerations and convictions alike.
“ Dr. Keith Simpson, the forensic pathologist consulted by Anthony Summers, agrees with the verdict of accidental overdose. He cited the absence of drug residue in her stomach combined with the high level of drugs found in her liver. These factors together indicate that the fatal dose began several hours before her death, since they apparently had time to move from the stomach to the liver.” (Woog 58)
Forensic Science, recognized as Forensics, is the solicitation of science to law to understand evidences for crime investigation. Forensic scientists are investigators that collect evidences at the crime scene and analyse it uses technology to reveal scientific evidence in a range of fields. Physical evidence are included things that can be seen, whether with the naked eye or through the use of magnification or other analytical tools. Some of this evidence is categorized as impression evidence2.In this report I’ll determine the areas of forensic science that are relevant to particular investigation and setting out in what method the forensic science procedures I have recognized that would be useful for the particular crime scene.