FSC402H Topics in Forensic Science 2: Forensic Toxicology

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FSC402HTopics in Forensic Science 2 Forensic
Toxicology

• September 8, 2003

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Welcome to FSC402H

• Introductions
• Course Overview
• Explanation of evaluations
• Explanation of tutorials
• History of Forensic Toxicology
• About the CFS Toxicology Section

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Instructors

• Teri Martin, M.Sc.
• teri.martin_at_jus.gov.on.ca
• Rob Langille, Ph.D.
• robert.langille_at_jus.gov.on.ca
• Kathy McKague, Ph.D.
• kathy.mckague_at_jus.gov.on.ca

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Course Objectives

• Understand the basic principles of pharmacology
  and toxicology
• Apply this understanding to specific drug classes
  such as opioids, stimulants, antidepressants and
  poisons
• Develop an understanding of the analytical
  methods used in forensic toxicology
• Understand the role of the forensic toxicologist
  in medical and legal investigations

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Course Format

• Three instructors on a rotational basis
• Videos and articles may augment lectures
• Possibility of field trips to the CFS or to court
• Students are expected to come to class prepared
  and to actively participate in class discussions
  and tutorial exercises

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Required Text

• Levine, B. (Ed.) Principles of Forensic
  Toxicology. American Association for Clinical
  Chemistry Inc. 1999. ISBN 1-890883-07-7

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Tutorial Objectives

• Discovery...
• through focusing of energies on a single case
• Integration...
• of the material from lecture and readings
• Application...
• of the material from lecture and readings
• Teaching...
• fellow students through group discussions

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Tutorial

• Last hour of class on most lecture nights
• Focus will be on group discussion
• Groups will change weekly and will be randomly
  assigned
• Topics for tutorial are based on real cases
• Cases will be given to students 1 week prior to
  the date of their tutorial presentation

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Approaching the Tutorial

• Let discussion questions guide your readings
• They will be handed in at the end of class
• Also keep in mind
• What are the drugs of interest in the case?
• What was requested in terms of analysis?
• Were all requests met? Should they have been?
• Were there any overlooked analyses of merit?
• Were the best samples analyzed?
• What is your overall interpretation of this case
  you are the toxicologist!

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Assignment of Marks

• Midterm Evaluation 35
• Tutorial Assignments 10
• Final Examination 55

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Midterm Evaluation - 35

• October 21, 2003 - in class
• 600 p.m. 700 p.m.
• No tutorial that week
• Multiple choice and short answer
• Lectures 1 to 6, inclusive
• Questions will be set by all 3 instructors
• You will have 1 hour to complete the exam

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Tutorial Presentation - 10

• Each tutorial assignment will be graded out of 10
  possible marks
• All members of the group will be given the same
  grade
• Marks will be allocated according to
• Answers to written discussion questions
• Appropriateness of the conclusion
• Completeness of the interpretation
• Group discussion/presentation
• Ability to answer questions from the class
• Ability to answer questions from the instructor

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Final Examination - 55

• Final details to be announced
• Multiple choice
• Short answer
• Integrative case study questions
• Will cover the entire course curriculum!
• Emphasis on the last half of the course
• Tutorial material is examinable
• Questions will be set by all 3 instructors
• Each instructor will mark their part of the exam