Forensic Toxicology

Code:

MCF13_17

Acronym:

MCF13_17

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Forensic Sciences

Instance: 2015/2016 - SP

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences Department
Course/CS Responsible:	Forensic Sciences

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MCF	15	Current Studies Plan	1	-	6	40	162

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

The unit of Forensic Toxicology has as main objective to develop the competence of students in the analysis, understanding and interpretation of results obtained in laboratory methodologies associated with xenobiotics with importance in forensic toxicology. Detailing, it is intended that students interpret forensic toxicology in its various aspects, from the ante-mortem toxicological analysis, post-mortem examination to establish the cause of death, research databases and bibliography of relevant information related to xenobiotics, implementation of analytical methods suitable for the purposes, and interpretation of analysis results, whenever in a perspective of evaluation of the dynamics of the compounds used illicitly and/or in a regulated manner.

Learning outcomes and competences

The unit’s contents, while not comprehensively addressing all of the complexity and magnitude of the problems inherent to forensic toxicology, address the main key points in order to create a broad understanding of the topic, while allowing students to develop capabilities to deepen their knowledge according to their intervening area, either scientific research, policy or field work. The contents were developed to raise the students’ sensitivity and critical judgment, thus promoting their problem solving ability, since each case is unique.
The skills of the students in the analysis, understanding and interpretation of results obtained in laboratory methodologies associated with forensic toxicology are developed by the body of knowledge taught at the scope of this course, including the approach of the procedures of selection, sampling, preservation and packaging of samples, the laboratory methods (screening tests, mass spectrometry or atomic absorption), the validation of the results (validation methodologies and interpretation / contextualization of results), knowledge about main xenobiotic groups associated with Forensic Toxicology and research, interpretation and preparation of laboratory protocols (research databases, bibliography and "journal club").

Working method

Presencial

Program

1. Introduction of Forensic Toxicology, historical aspects and basics concepts. Presentation of the Laboratory of Toxicology of FFUP by the perspective of following a toxicological analysis.
2. Training selection, sample, preservation and packaging of different types of samples (biological or non-biological) for Forensic Toxicology. Labeling, packaging and collection devices. Model Toxicological request. Chain of custody.
3. Major groups of xenobiotics with an interest in Forensic Toxicology: ethanol, methanol, carbon monoxide and cyanide, pesticides, drugs of abuse and drugs.
4. Toxicology in the Internet: search in databases. "Journal club".
5. Laboratory protocols for rapid screening of xenobiotics involved in poisonings, or in the scope of forensic field.
6. Validation of analytical methods to obtain precise and accurate results.
7. Pre-treatment of biological samples to characterize and quantify compounds by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry.
8. Technique of Atomic Absorption Spectrometry with electrothermal atomization for quantification of toxic metals: introduction to the basics of the method, pretreatment of the sample and analysis of it, as well as discussion of the results.

Mandatory literature

Klaassen Curtis D; Casarett and Doulls toxicology. ISBN: 978-0-07-176923-5
Nelson Lewis S; Goldfranks toxicologic emergencies. ISBN: 978-0-07-160593-9
BARRY LEVINE ; PRINCIPLES OF FORENSIC TOXICOLOGY. ISBN: 1594250960

Complementary Bibliography

• ANTHONY C MOFFAT, M DAVID OSSELTON, BRIAN WIDDOP, AND JO WATTS; CLARKE'S ANALYSIS OF DRUGS AND POISONS. ISBN: 978-0-85369-711-4
Timbrell John A; Principles of biochemical toxicology. ISBN: 978-0-8493-7302-2

Teaching methods and learning activities

Lectures (20 hours) and practical classes (20 hours)
The assessment is in accordance with the evaluation rules in force. The evaluation of UC (6 ECTS) addresses the knowledge and skills of both theoretical (equivalent to 4 ECTS and quoted in 13 values) and practical (equivalent to 2 ECTS and quoted in 7 values).

This assessment consists of a written exam that versa the knowledge and skills acquired in the theoretical component (corresponding to 13 values) and a distributed component that evaluates the practical component (corresponding to 7 values).
The distributed evaluation results from two evaluation procedures:
• Presentation by a working group (2-3 students per group) in the "Journal Club" which deals with the knowledge gained in practical classes (corresponding to 1.5 ECTS and quoted in 5 values);
• Reports (individual or group) of practical classes procedures (corresponding to 0.5 ECTS and quoted in 2 values).

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Exame	65,00
Trabalho de campo	25,00
Trabalho laboratorial	10,00
Total:	100,00

Calculation formula of final grade

Final Grade = 0,65.Exam + 0,25.GroupWork + 0,1.LabReport

Classification improvement

Not allowed to improve classification in components of the distributed evaluation.