FORENSIC TOXICOLOGICAL EXAMINATION

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Forensic toxicological examination covers the scientific evaluation of the effects of chemical substances on the organism in deaths, injuries, traffic accidents, occupational accidents, and criminal investigations.
As a forensic medicine specialist, analysis results regarding alcohol, medications, narcotics, toxic gases, and other chemical substances are interpreted within the framework of scientific methodology, and reasoned expert opinions are provided. 

Forensic toxicology is the branch of science that examines the effects of chemical substances on the human body, the dose-response relationship, and their connection with death or injury.
The fundamental questions in judicial processes are:

• What is the substance detected in the blood or tissue?

• Is the detected level toxic?

• Is there a causal link between the substance and the death or injury?

• Did the substance act alone or in combination with other factors?

• Was it ingested pre-mortem (before death) or post-mortem (after death)?

In these evaluations;

• Council of Forensic Medicine practices,

• Supreme Court precedents,

• International toxicology literature
  are taken as the basis. 

•  Blood alcohol level

• Impact on driving safety

• Effects on consciousness and behavior

• Lethal level analysis

• etc.
   

• Sedatives

• Antidepressants

• Antipsychotics

• Cardiac medications

• Analgesics

• Anesthetic agents

• etc.

Overdose, drug interactions, and therapeutic limits are evaluated.

• Synthetic cannabinoids

• Opioids

• Amphetamine derivatives

• Cocaine

• Cannabis metabolites

• etc.

The effect of substance use on consciousness, behavior, and the mechanism of death is analyzed.

• Carbon monoxide

• Cyanide

• Industrial chemicals

• Pesticides

• etc.

The poisoning level and lethality potential are evaluated based on scientific criteria.  

Scientific evaluation consists of the following stages: 

1. Examination of the sample type (blood, urine, tissue, vitreous humor, etc.)
    
2. Evaluation of the analysis method (GC-MS, LC-MS/MS, etc.)
    
3. Control of measurement units and reference ranges
    
4. Comparison of therapeutic – toxic – lethal levels
    
5. Analysis of substance interactions
    
6. Correlation with clinical and autopsy findings
    
7. Causality (proximate cause) analysis
    
8. Preparation of a reasoned technical report
    

A laboratory result alone is not sufficient; it must be interpreted together with clinical and incident data.

The most critical element in forensic toxicology is the scientific establishment of the effect of the detected substance on death or injury. 

While performing the evaluation: 

• Dose-response relationship
   
• Personal tolerance
   
• Presence of chronic use
   
• Combined substance effects
   
• Accompanying diseases
   
• Interaction with trauma
   

are taken into consideration.

Particularly, files involving multiple drugs or alcohol + drug combinations require detailed analysis.

• Alcohol evaluation in traffic accidents

• Occupational accident and occupational exposure files

• Suspicious death cases

• Claims of medication overdose

• Poisoning cases

• Files involving criminal accusations under the influence of drugs

• Death examinations within the scope of insurance 

Is every high blood alcohol level a cause of death?
No. The mechanism of death and other factors are evaluated together. 

Does a toxic level show the same effect on every individual?
No. Tolerance, chronic use, and accompanying diseases can change the outcome. 

Can a laboratory result be erroneous?
The sampling, storage, and analysis process must be technically examined. 

How is the cause of death determined if there is more than one substance?
A combined effect analysis is performed and the contribution rate is evaluated.

• Literature-based dose-response analysis

• Technical interpretation of laboratory data

• Holistic evaluation with clinical and autopsy findings

• Reasoned reporting suitable for judicial review

• Impartial and objective approach
   

Forensic toxicology is a field of expertise where scientific interpretation, rather than just numerical values, is decisive. Incorrectly interpreted toxicological data can lead to serious legal consequences. 

You can request a scientific preliminary evaluation regarding files containing alcohol, medications, narcotics, or toxic substances and contact us for a detailed expert opinion.
For lawyers and individual applications, a review is conducted over the file.