1. What do you see. What do you think about what you see
What do you see? What do you think about what you see? How do you feel about what you see?
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2. Toxicology
Chapter 6
Bellwork: Read the Case Study on “Dr. Death” on page 200 in your textbook
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3. Have you ever taken a poison?
A poison is any substance that causes a harmful or deadly reaction when taken in sufficient quantities
Arsenic
Mercury
Digitalis
An intoxicant such as alcohol or carbon monoxide requires large amounts to be lethal
A poison such as cyanide requires a very small amount
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5. Toxicology is the study of chemistry and physiology that deals with drugs, poisons, or other toxic substances.
In 1775 the Swedish chemist, Scheele discovered how to prove arsenic was involved in suspicious deaths.
Forensic Toxicology has become an important aspect of investigations ever since.
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7. The Role of A Toxicologist
Assess the state of the accident victim
Determine whether someone died from poison or natural causes
Assess whether drugs played a role in a perpetrator’s actions or in someone’s seizures or coma
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8. Looking for Toxins
Even when the ME can’t find a toxin, they may find the effects by studying the metabolism
Often visible effects of toxins are not easy to find
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10. Biotransformation
Biotransformation is the conversion of one chemical in the body to another through metabolism
Heroin is made from morphine and when injected into the bloodstream immediately turns back into morphine
Finding morphine is a good sign that heroin was present
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11. Collecting Samples
Best places to find toxins are where chemicals enter or exit the body & where they concentrate in the body
Blood, stomach contents, brain tissues, and hair or urine are places to check
Blood samples show what is going on at the time of death.
After notes you will examine how BAC is used to determine intoxication levels
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12. Urine samples are easily collected
The routes through the kidneys are where the body eliminates drugs and toxins so levels in urine may be found in greater concentrations
These do not tell when the drug was exerting any effect on the individual
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13. Contents are examined if poison or drug ingestion is suspected
Stomach contents may be examined in survivors by a gastric tube passed through the nose into the stomach
Contents are examined if poison or drug ingestion is suspected
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14. Vitreous humor is the liquid in the eyeball
It is a waterlike fluid that resists decay
Water-soluble chemicals can be found in the same level as in the blood & reflect the concentration of toxins in the blood
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15. Hair absorbs heavy metals like arsenic, lead, etc.
As hair grows, you can determine the timeline of toxins present in the body
Insects feed on corpses and may carry traces of toxins from the decaying flesh
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17. Determining the Cause of Death
Think back to how the ME determines death:
The Medical Examiner must determine if the death was:
1. Natural
2. Accidental
3. Suicidal
4. Homicidal
5. Unknown
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18. Manner of Death
Natural– determine did the toxins cause a heart attack or was it “natural”?
Accidental – dose miscalculations, mixing prescriptions, adding alcohol, or curious children could be accidentally poisoned
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19. The ME must find who has access to the victim’s food, drink, etc.
Suicidal– This is the most common manner of death involving toxins and the most common toxin is carbon monoxide.
Homicidal – uncommon today since guns are used. If it is homicidal poisoning, usually the killer knows the victim’s habits
The ME must find who has access to the victim’s food, drink, etc.
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20. Testing for toxins
Color-tests use chemicals where a reagent or chemical solution is added and a color change results
Chromatography identifies compounds in the toxins according to their absorption
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21. Gas Chromatography separates compounds by size and chemical properties
UV Spectroscopy identifies which compounds absorb or reflect light
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24. What level is the Toxin?
Normal – the level expected in the normal population
Therapeutic – the level your doctor wants you to reach for medical treatment
Toxic – level that may cause harm, nausea, vomiting, or change in the heart’s rhythm
Lethal – level at which the drug causes death
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25. 1. What do you see. 2. What do you think about it. 3
1. What do you see? 2. What do you think about it? 3. How do you feel about it?
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26. What do you know about DUI laws?
1. What is a “field-sobriety test”? 2. How accurate is the breathalyzer test? 3. Do blood samples show higher or lower levels of alcohol than the breathalyzer?
4. Are you required to take the breathalyzer and field sobriety tests? 5. What is the legal limit of BAC to drive?
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27. HGN test http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fQ2Zaiay2U Walk and Turn test
Example of a test
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28. In Arizona??!!
Last year, there were 39,991 DUI arrests in Arizona; the highest number of arrests or 11.9% of total arrests.
Last year recorded 6,757 alcohol-related vehicle crashes in the state and 324 people killed.
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29. Drinking drivers were involved in 59
Drinking drivers were involved in 59.26% of all fatalities in the State of Arizona.
In Maricopa County alone there were 4,240 alcohol-related crashes, killing 132 and injuring 2,888 people.
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30. Legal Limits .04 = DWI if driving a commercial vehicle .08 = DWI
.15 = extreme DWI
.20 = super extreme
These are misdemeanors with fines and possible impoundment of the car
Aggravated DWI when the person has 2 or more DWI’s in the past 84 months
Aggravated DWI if any passengers in the car are 15 yrs old or younger
These are a felony with jail time
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31. Understanding Alcohol
Alcohol appears in the blood stream within minutes after being ingested.
It is absorbed from the stomach and small intestines into the bloodstream.
Alcohol is excreted through urine, breath, and perspiration.
BAC is the blood alcohol content as measured by
A breathalyzer test
Blood test
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32. Intoxilyzer/Breathalyzer
In 1954 Indiana State Police Captain R. F. Borkenstein invented the Breathalyzer
Breath is analyzed using a spectrophotometer and by examining the chemical composition
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34. HGN Test
Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus is a test done while watching eye movement.
Signs of jerking indicate impairment
Other field sobriety tests include:
Walk and turn
Standing on one leg
Finger to nose
Rhomberg Balance test
Counting Backwards
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35. How to Stay Safe!
Driving after drinking even a small amount of alcohol can put you at risk of getting a DUI. Please use these tips to help keep our community safe:
Don't ride with someone who's been drinking.
Stop an intoxicated person from driving.
Offer to be a non-drinking driver for friends.
Report suspected drunk drivers to the police.
Call a non-drinking friend for a ride home.
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