subject: The Work Of A Forensic Toxicologist And Testimony Training In The Forensics Science Field [print this page] Analytical chemistry, pharmacology, toxicology and clinical chemistry are among the disciplines used by a forensic toxicologist during the course of legal or medical investigations. These professionals are not as concerned with how these investigations turn out as with obtaining for the investigators true and accurate test results.
Toxicologists understand an investigations context, the crime scene evidence such as drugs that are present, pill bottles, trace residue, powders and the like. The toxicologist then can point to any substances present in the body and determine what effect they likely had in relation to the death.
Substances often quickly change forms after they enter the body, the forensic toxicologist can find it difficult to correctly identify them. Heroin is one such substance. When heroin enters the body, it quickly is metabolized into a different substance and finally into morphine. Toxicologists will take into consideration needle marks and the purity of the discovered substance to make an accurate diagnosis of the cause of death.
Often toxicologists are summoned into court to testify in a case. Usually they are considered expert witnesses because of their courses of study and daily work. But the reason they do so well in court is because of the testimony training they had in school.
Forensic science education programs generally include testimony training in their course offerings to help students become more relaxed in a court setting and to prepare them for what theyll encounter there. Some of the topics that are covered in such a course include:
Being confident while speaking in court. Most people are nervous when theyre on the witness stand. For toxicologists its no different. A good course will teach them strategies to deal with their fears.
The way jurors learn and remember. Here, students are taught adult learning styles, memory and attention concepts, how to get their point across.
The effective use of eye contact and gestures. In testimony training, students learn how points of communication are strengthened with appropriate gestures and eye contact.
Body language. Nonverbal behavior is determined by feelings and thoughts. Students learn how their nonverbal behavior can affect their believability in the minds of jurors.
In summary, toxicologists help legal and medical investigators determine the cause of death in a person when either foulplay or substances are suspected to have been involved. They often go to court to provide testimony, the training for which they receive while in school.
