ABSTRACT
Forensic toxicology is the study and practice of the application of toxicology to the purposes of the law
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It involves, not just the identification and quantifying of a drug, poison or substance in human tissue, but also the ability to interpret the results of those findings. Every year in the U.S., tens of thousands of people die directly or indirectly because of drugs. Because of this, the toxicology laboratory is as important to the medical examiner as the investigative section. It is absolutely necessary for a medicolegal system to have access to a well-equipped, adequately staffed toxicology laboratory. Without this, rulings as to cause and manner of death may be erroneous.
