Ethical Issues in Forensic Toxicology - Essay Example

Forensic Toxicology Introduction Toxicology is a term used to refer to the examination of humanbody for toxins (poison) and to evaluate its quantity and extend of harm caused. Toxicology is applied in clinical, medical, environmental as well as forensic field. In the field of forensic, the study of toxicology is used to figure out the level of chemical contact and the level of injury caused by toxic substances. The study of forensic toxicology is conducted by a forensic toxicologist who needs to take into consideration the context in which the investigation is occurring (Levine 3). He/she may have to identify and analyze evidence that are collected at the crime scene and symptoms that have been recorded by the crime scene investigation team. These evidences help in narrowing the investigation that is being conducted. Forensic toxicologists tend to ignore the legal outcome of an investigation and they give emphasis to the technological equipments and methods used for analyzing and acquiring of outcomes (McDavid 92). Forensic toxicology is conducted on several samples that are acquired from different individuals at the crime scene and the main task of the toxicologist is to determine the quantity of chemicals in the samples, kind of chemicals present and the impact of these chemicals. Sampling Forensic Toxicology is conducted on bodily fluids including urine, blood and other samples obtained from body, it is even conducted on body parts especially hair. Urine samples are mostly used in the case of testing individuals representing the field of sports and employees. It is one of the most commonly used sample in the case of criminal investigation and it is easy to extract from a subject who is alive. For example: employees as well as athletes’ urine samples may be tested for consumption of marijuana and this substance tends to remain active in human body for fourteen days from the day it was consumed. Tests results from urine samples can take approximately 8 hours of time before showing positive and negative results. Forensic Toxicology is even conducted on obtained blood samples. To conduct proper inspection of blood sample, a minimum of 10 cm3 of blood content is required (Biswas 47). A forensic toxicologist obtains important information from the blood sample, he may obtain a profile of the substance that has been consumed at and before the sample was obtained and blood samples are mostly used in order to identify the level of blood alcohol level. Blood alcohol levels are mostly checked in order to identify the amount of alcohol in the sample provider’s blood at the time of incidences such as driving. A forensic toxicologist may use hair samples in order to identify the level of dosage of drugs consumed and the time period at which the drug was consumed. Consumed drugs tend to travel from blood streams to hair that is growing and the drugs may end up being stored in hair follicle which helps in determining and creating a timeline at which the drug was taken. An individual hair growth has been recorded at one to one and a half cm each month and the stored drugs in the follicle area may help in determining the date and time the drug was ingested. Organs of subjects as well as other bodily fluids are even used by forensic toxicologists especially while conducting autopsy. While conducting an autopsy, forensic toxicologists may use the contents of the gastric region and gastric fluids are mostly obtained from subjects that are no longer alive. This content can help in identifying liquid content or drug substances that may have been consumed by the deceased subject before dying. Ethical Issues in Forensic Toxicology Forensic toxicologists may face various ethical dilemmas; they may obtain different results from different set of samples. In the case of hair testing, hair testing cannot be recognized as a standard for detecting and analyzing drug content as a standard for the entire population as different set of hair can provide different results. The type and color of hair can provide different kinds of results. For example: more drug traces can be found in hairs that are darker in color (Lane 17). This means that individuals who have consumed equal amount of drugs may not have same drug results through their hair samples. A person who has darker hair sample may have more drug content than a person who has lighter colored hair and this may lead to the issue of discrimination on the basis of race. When analyzing for drug content level, oral fluids are given more importance in order to prove consumption of illegal content and substance and these fluids are mostly used while testing drivers for cases of DUI (Driving under Influence). Case Law In the case of State v. Martin, Martin was held responsible for the act of killing Stone 72 years old while driving under the influence. Martin was driving a truck that fell in the category of pickups and his truck experienced a collision with Stone’s vehicle. The court ruled that Martin was guilty in the case and he was imprisoned for 15 years along with a fine of $10,100 as penalty (Justia Law, 2013). In this case a forensic toxicologist was used to determine whether Martin was driving under influence or not, the toxicologist was Landrum and he even became an expert witness in the case. The forensic toxicologist determined that Martin has a blood alcohol level of 0.167 and this level was way above the standard level of 0.08 and he even further explained the impact of BAC on an individual and the impairment that individual faces. Conclusion The primary work of the forensic toxicologist is to examine samples of bodily fluids such as blood and other body elements such as hair for toxins such as alcohol as well as drugs. The toxicologists tend to determine the level of toxins in an individual’s sample at the time of the sample was taken and the impact of the level of toxins on human mind and body. The toxicologist even ensures that he/she analyzes results in compliance with the context of the case. Works Cited Biswas, Gautam . Review of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology. North America: Jaypee Brothers Medical Pub, 2012. Print. Lane, Frederick S.. The naked employee: how technology is compromising workplace privacy. New York: AMACOM, 2003. Print. Levine, Barry. Principles of forensic toxicology. 2nd ed. Washington, DC: AACC Press, 2003. Print. McDavid, Susan, and Richard A. McDavid. Career opportunities in forensic science. New York: Ferguson, 2008. Print. "State v. Martin :: 2011 :: South Carolina Court of Appeals Decisions :: South Carolina Case Law :: US Case Law :: US Law :: Justia." US Law, Case Law, Codes, Statutes & Regulations :: Justia Law. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 June 2013. . Read More