ABSTRACT
Responding to legal and procedural challenges is clearly a significant responsibility for forensic toxicologists. This responsibility must be faced with the highest level of transparency and integrity. The forensic scientist must have the relevant information and perform the computations before trial. The mathematical details should also be presented in court for the jury to see by the use of an easel along with clear explanation. Forensic toxicology is among the “mandated sciences” where science finds itself applied in response to public policy and directives. The equation developed by E. M. P. Widmark has long been used by forensic toxicologists to provide an estimate of either the number of drinks necessary to yield a particular blood alcohol concentration (BAC) or the BAC resulting from consuming a specified number of drinks. Compared to forensic breath alcohol analysis, the analysis of blood alcohol is probably the next most common forensic measurement performed.
