NCJ Number
68059
Journal
BULLETIN MEDECINE LEGALE, TOXICOLOGIE Volume: 22 Issue: 5 Dated: (SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 1979) Pages: 569-581
Date Published
1979
Length
13 pages
Annotation
THE BACKGROUND, SERVICES, AND PROSPECTS OF THE LEADING FRENCH TOXICOLOGICAL HOSPITAL ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
THE FIRST TOXICOLOGICAL COUNSELING SERVICE ESTABLISHED IN LYON IN 1944 HAS NOW GROWN INTO A COMPLEX WARD AT THE EDOUARD-HERRIOT HOSPITAL. 'CLINICAL TOXOLOGY' IS DEFINED AS THE CLINICAL, BIOLOGICAL, ANATOMICAL, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL TREATMENT OF ALL TYPES OF POISON VICTIMS. IT AIMS AT TREATING PATIENTS, NOTIFYING OFFICIAL AGENCIES, AND PREVENTING FURTHER INCIDENTS. THE ANTI-POISON CENTER FURNISHES DOCUMENTATION AND AROUND-THE-CLOCK INFORMATION VIA TELEPHONE, AND ANALYZES AND PROCESSES INFORMATION RECEIVED. 'TOXICOVIGILANCE' REFERS TO THE SURVEILLANCE OF HIGH-RISK CLIENTS (SUICIDAL PERSONS, ADDICTS) BY HOSPITAL TEAMS CONSISTING OF NURSES, ANALYSTS, AND SOCIAL WORKERS. THE LYON TOXICOLOGY UNIT CONSISTS OF FIVE SECTIONS: A 10-BED EMERGENCY UNIT, THE ANTI-POISON CENTER, THE PHARMACOVIGILANCE UNIT (WHICH INCLUDES A DATA COLLECTION SERVICE), THE TOXICOLOGICAL LABORATORY, AND THE PSYCHIATRIC UNIT. A VAST INFORMATION PROCESSING NETWORK, INCLUDING FOUR LOCAL PUBLIC INFORMATION SERVICES, ANALYZES INFORMATION, PROMOTES NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION, AND PUBLISHES ITS OWN CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS. STUDIES ON THE CAUSES OF POISONINGS AND ON NEW POTENTIALLY POISONOUS MEDICATION ARE PLANNED. THE CHIEF PROBLEMS WILL BE THE LACK OF TRAINED AND HIGHLY SPECIALIZED STAFF. --IN FRENCH.