Forensic Toxicology
Definition
The branch of toxicology that applies analytical chemistry, pharmacology and pathology to medico-legal questions, principally the detection, identification and quantitation of poisons, drugs and their metabolites in biological samples drawn at autopsy or from a living suspect or victim. The output is a written report admissible in an Indian court under Section 63 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam 2023.
Related terms
- Antemortem vs Postmortem Sample
- Antemortem samples are drawn from a living patient (most often blood, urine and gastric lavage at hospital admission); postmortem samples are collected...
- BSA Section 63 Certification
- The provision under the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam 2023 that governs admission of expert opinion. A forensic toxicology report carries the signature of...
- Poison
- Paracelsus framed the working definition in 1538 as 'sola dosis facit venenum', the dose alone makes the poison. Any substance, including water...
- Presumptive vs Confirmatory Test
- A presumptive test (Reinsch for heavy metals, Marquis for opioids, Trinder for salicylates) is fast, cheap and class-specific, used to triage caseloads....
- Viscera
- The standard set of organs and fluids collected at a suspected poisoning autopsy in India: stomach with contents, a length of upper...
Explained in
- Introduction and Scope of Forensic ToxicologyThe branch of toxicology that applies analytical chemistry, pharmacology and pathology to medico-legal questions, principally the detection, identification and...