ROLE OF TOXICOLOGY IN SUICIDE EVALUATION

• NCJ Number: 13571
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 19 Issue: 2 Dated: (APRIL 1974) Pages: 284-291
• Author(s): R V BLANKE
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 8 pages
• Corporate Author: American Soc for Testing and Materials
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS. PAPER PRESENTED AT 25TH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF FORENSIC SCIENCES, LAS VEGAS, FEB 22, 1973.

Annotation

WAYS IN WHICH TOXICOLOGISTS CAN AID INVESTIGATIONS OF POSSIBLE SUICIDES OTHER THAN BY ESTABLISHING THE PRESENCE OF A SPECIFIC AGENT AT A LETHAL LEVEL.

Abstract

WITH PROPER REVIEW OF THE SOCIAL AND MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE DECEDENT, PATHOLOGICAL AND OTHER FINDINGS, AN ANALYTICAL APPROACH CAN BE PLANNED WHICH, WITH PROPER INTERPRETATION, CAN YIELD USEFUL INFORMATION IN RESOLVING DIFFICULT QUESTIONS RAISED IN DISCRIMINATING BETWEEN ACCIDENTAL AND SUICIDAL DEATHS. ESTIMATION OF THE TOTAL BODY BURDEN AND, INDIRECTLY, THE TOTAL DOSE INGESTED, MAY BE IMPORTANT. THIS WOULD INCLUDE TISSUE DISTRIBUTION STUDIES AND IDENTIFICATION AND QUANTITATION OF METABOLITES, AS WELL AS OF PARENT DRUGS. EVEN SUBLETHAL OR THERAPEUTIC LEVELS OF DRUGS AND OTHER CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES CAN BE IMPORTANT IN RESOLVING SUSPICIOUS SUICIDE CASES. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT MUCH INFORMATION IS LACKING AND FURTHER RESEARCH IS NECESSARY BEFORE SOME OF THE MORE PERPLEXING PROBLEMS CAN BE RESOLVED. HOWEVER, NEW AVENUES OF RESEARCH ARE OPENING AND, BY BEING AWARE OF THE NATURE OF THE PROBLEMS PRESENTLY RECEIVING AN ACTIVE RESEARCH INTEREST, THE FORENSIC TOXICOLOGIST CAN MAKE IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARDS THE RESOLUTION OF THESE PROBLEMS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)