Veidlapa Nr. M-3 (8)
Study Course Description

Forensic Toxicology

Main Study Course Information

Course Code
RTM_009
Branch of Science
Clinical medicine; Forensic science
ECTS
3.00
Target Audience
Medicine
LQF
Level 8

Study Course Implementer

Course Supervisor

Residency Speciality

Speciality
Supervisor of Medical Speciality
Contacts

-

About Study Course

Objective

to provide forensic medicine resident with required basic knowledge of forensic toxicology discipline, in order to prepare Forensic Medicine expert for the certification in specialty of Forensic examination of live and dead persons.

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge

1.about forensic toxicology subject, toxic substances, used technology ,taking of samples for toxicological investigation.

Skills

1.– collect biological samples for toxicological study from living and dead persons , interpret the results obtained during forensic expertise of living or dead persons, determine the death from intoxication.

Competences

1.– independently perform forensic-medical examination of dead person at the scene of death and inspection of the corpse in autopsy;

Assessment

Individual work

Title
% from total grade
Grade
1.

Individual work

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: to provide theoretical knowledge of forensic toxicology and acquire practical skills working with material evidence (biological samples) and collection of samples in accordance with the Cabinet of Ministers Regulations. No. 268 (entered into force on 06.01.2016.) “Regulations for medical staff and students who acquire the first or second level professional higher education about the expertise in treatment, and the amount of their practical and theoretical knowledge” Theoretical education: seminars 13. Poisons, their classification, poisoning with ethyl alcohol and carbon monoxide. D.Tribis 1st year seminar 24. Poisoning with carbon monoxide and combustion products. Death by fire. Corpse residue examination. D.Tribis 25. Poisoning with narcotic and psychotropic substances. Poisoning with medication. D.Tribis Practical studies Nr. Theme Resp. 1. Special requirements for medical laboratories. LVS EN ISO/IEC 17025 standard demands. Recommendations of the International Association of Forensic Toxicologists (TIAFT) and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Dainis Tribis 2. Classical and modern toxic substances’ isolation methods: extraction, distillation, deflegmation, dialysis, mineralization and destruction. Cadaveric material rotting products impact on poisons detection methods. Dainis Tribis 3. Narcotic and psychotropic substances. Classification. Detection methods in seized materials and biological specimens. Opiates and opioids. Cocaine and its metabolites. Amphetamine and its derivatives (MDA, MDMA, MDEA, MBDB, ephedrine, ephedrone, methamphetamine). New psychoactive substances (NPS). Cannabis products. Pharmacognostical investigation of cannabis herbal products. Psilocin and psilocybin. LSD. Mescaline. Fentanyl derivatives. Derivatives of benzodiazepine and dibenzoazepine. Barbiturates and thiobarbiturates. Derivatives of phenothiazine and thioxanthene. Derivatives of butyrophenone, imidazoline. Oxybutyrate and butyrolactone. Derivatives of pyrazolone. Salicylates. Tricyclic antidepressants. Zolpidem, zopiclon, zaleplon. Combined poisonings. Dainis Tribis 4. Drugs screening by enzyme multiplied immunoassay technique (EMIT), gas chromatography-masspectrometry. Thin layer chromatography. Sample preparation and purification: liquid and solid phase extraction, gel-chromatography, re-extraction. Dainis Tribis 5. Ethyl alcohol and other volatile substances. Vidmark formula. Ethylene glycol and other glycols, cellosolves. Aromatic hydrocarbons. Isolation and gas chromatography analysis methods for volatile compounds. Dainis Tribis 6. Toxic gases. Carbon monoxide. Carboxyhemoglobin and carboxymyoglobin. Methods for the determination of carboxyhemoglobin. Analysis of other toxic gases. Dainis Tribis 7. Toxicology of cardiac glycosides. Isolation methods. Identification and quantitation methods. Calcium antagonists. Beta-blockers. Dainis Tribis 8. Tear gases (CS, CN, chloropicrin). Analysis methods (gas chromatography). Dainis Tribis 9. Poisonous plants and mushrooms. Animal and fish toxins. Snake and bee venom Sabotage poisons. Dainis Tribis 10. Heavy metals and metalloids. Toxicology and analysis methods: x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Dainis Tribis 11. Analysis of cations and anions. Concentrated acids and bases. Acetic acid analysis. Dainis Tribis 12. Organophosphate poisoning, analysis methods. Pesticides. Classification. Analysis methods. Dainis Tribis 13. Analysis of household chemicals. Dainis Tribis 14. Unknown substance analysis. Dainis Tribis 15. Drivers and other persons alcohol and drug test. Breathalyzers. Results interpretation. Dainis Tribis 16. Micro-crystalloscopy and crystal optics. Application in drug analysis. Dainis Tribis 17. Modern chromatography methods (HPLC, GC-MS, LC-MS, capillary electrophoresis etc.). Derivatization. Technique and reagents. Dainis Tribis 19 Toxicokinetics and toxicodynamics. Analysis results interpretation. Post mortem drug redistribution. Therapeutic, toxic, lethal concentrations. Sources of toxicology information. Bibliography, data bases. Dainis Tribis Acquired manipulutions – taking, packing and delivering samples from 100 examinations of corpses during 1st,2nd year studies

Examination

Title
% from total grade
Grade
1.

Examination

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examination of theoretical knowledge with multiple choice test, examination of practical skills with situational task. Evaluation of results in 10 grade system.

Study Course Theme Plan

FULL-TIME
Part 1
  1. Seminar

Modality
Location
On site
Study trip

Topics

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  1. Seminar

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  1. Seminar

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  1. Seminar

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  1. Seminar

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  1. Seminar

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On site
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  1. Seminar

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On site
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  1. Seminar

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On site
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  1. Seminar

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On site
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  1. Seminar

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Location
On site
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Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
3.00
Number of Residency Seminars:
2
Length (weeks):
2
Final Examination:
Residency exam (Theory and practice)

Bibliography

Required Reading

1.

J.P.Wyatt, T.Squires, G. Norfolk, J. Payne-James, Oxford Handbook of Forensic Medicine, Oxford Medical Handbooks, 2011

2.

Tiesu medicīnas praktikums, Rīga, RSU, 2007.

3.

O.Teteris. Tiesu medicīnas esence. R.,Rasa ABC,2004, 591 lpp

4.

Vielas kā noziedzīgu nodarījumu pēdas. Rīga,LPA,2007

5.

Dolinak D., Matshes E., Lew E. Forensic Pathology, Elsevier Acad. Press,2005

Additional Reading

1.

Paškova V.I.,Tomiļin V.V. Laboratoriskās un speciālās izmeklēšanas metodes tiesu medicīnā,Maskava,Medicina,1975,455 lpp (kr.val.)

2.

Zaslavskis, Popovs, Šilovs V. Akūta saindēšanās ar etilalkoholu, St.Pēterburga, Juridiskais preses centrs,2007 (kr.val.)

3.

Dmitrijeva, Zaslavskis u.c. Hroniska alkohola intoksikācija, St.Pēterburga, Juridiskais preses centrs,2007 (kr.val.)

4.

1. Clarke ‘s Analysis of Drugs and Poisons,London: Pharmaceutical Press,Electronic version, 2004;

5.

2. Toxicological analysis (Edited by R.Klaus Muller): Verlag Gesundheit Berlin,1999

6.

3. Harald Schutz Benzodiazepines (A handbook.Basic Data, Analytical Methods,

7.

Pharmacokinetics and Comprehensive literature.Springer Verlag.New York,Berlin,

8.

Heidelberg Vol.I ,II, 1991,1996

Other Information Sources

1.

TEP 2013-2015 apstiprinātās alkohola, narkotiosko un psihotropo vielu piwerādīšanas metodes