Debunking the Top Forensic Toxicology Myths
What TV Doesn’t Tell You About Forensic Toxicology We’ve all seen how crimes are solved on forensic television shows: the forensic toxicologist collects samples from the crime scene, tests them in a state-of-the-art laboratory, and the killer is revealed and arrested in a matter of days. While the glamorous appeal…
Finding the Right Expert Witness for Your Case
Qualified, Credible and Confident: Selecting an Expert Witness An expert witness can make or break a case. They are called in to testify on complicated subjects – usually scientific or technical – and must be able to make their specialist knowledge accessible to the court. But it’s not just the…
Using an Expert Witness in a DUI Case
How Can an Expert Witness Help You in Your DUI Case? If you or a loved one has been charged with driving under the influence (DUI) and the decision to fight the charge has been made, there are two important steps to take: retain a lawyer – preferably an experienced…
Forensic Toxicology Drug Testing
What is Forensic Toxicology Anyway? With the many crime-based dramas becoming the mainstay of television entertainment, the idea of forensic toxicology is one that is not particularly unfamiliar. But do we really understand what it is or how it works? Do you know how it can be applied to your…
Workplace Drug Testing in California
California, Forensic Toxicologists and the Workplace Drug testing in the workplace is a very controversial issue; it specifically challenges the right to privacy of employees in both private and public companies. In California in specific, citizens’ rights are respected and protected against unlawful testing but under certain circumstances, forensic toxicologists…
When Do I Need a Forensic Toxicologist?
It’s Not Just CSI: The Other Roles of a Forensic Toxicologist We may think of the forensic toxicologist as confined to a dreary morgue or laboratory, taking samples from cadavers and watching centrifuges spin. This is the image of forensic toxicology most of us have encountered in movies and television…
The Role of a Forensic Toxicologist in Court
Interpretation and Expertise: The Forensic Toxicologist as Expert Witness An expert witness is someone who is qualified to testify in court as an expert on a certain topic or field. Their expertise is due to their specialist knowledge, skills or education, and they should be able to justify their opinions…
A Brief History of Poisons and Forensic Toxicology
Silent Killers: Poisons and the Development of Forensic Toxicology Forensic Toxicology is the study of poisons, chemicals, and toxins for the purpose of investigation. Most often, we think of it as being used in criminal investigations ¬– popular television shows like CSI or Bones have brought forensic practices in to…
Forensic Toxicology and DUIs
The Role of Forensic Toxicology in DUI cases An endless stream of CSI and cop shows have conditioned us to believe that investigation units are comprised of fault-less staff determined to pursue the ends of justice to the letter. But much like any other group of employees, police officers and…
Duties of an Expert Witness
Putting the Expert in Expert Witness Despite what TV would have you believe, court cases are rarely won by lawyers alone. The truth is a good expert witness can make all the difference when it comes to final judgments – especially when one considers that the facts of a case…
Different Types of Samples Used by a Forensic Toxicologist
Forensic Toxicologists and The Samples They Use The law has come a long way since the first fingerprint was used to link a suspect to the scene of a crime. It’s unlikely anyone a century ago could have predicted the role of a forensic toxicologist and how their field has…
What is Forensic Toxicology?
Forensic Toxicology – What it is and How it Works What is forensic toxicology? It is the study of the toxic effects that chemicals can have on the body as well as understanding how different toxins within substances act, when it can occur and the various symptoms and treatments for…
