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To Test or Not To Test?: The Value of Toxicology in a Delayed Overdose Death
Author(s) -
Walsh Erin E.,
Shoff Elisa N.,
Elizabeth Zaney Mary,
Hime George W.,
Garavan Fintan,
Boland Diane M.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of forensic sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.715
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1556-4029
pISSN - 0022-1198
DOI - 10.1111/1556-4029.13822
Subject(s) - paraphernalia , medicine , poison control , test (biology) , medical emergency , forensic toxicology , toxicology , emergency medicine , history , archaeology , paleontology , chemistry , chromatography , biology
A case demonstrating the necessity of thorough death investigation processes where toxicology plays an active role is presented. A 33‐year‐old white man presented to the emergency room in respiratory distress after an overdose episode where he was revived on the scene by fire rescue. His condition continued to deteriorate and he expired 6 days after the initial incident. No admission specimens were available for testing; however, there were specimens drawn 4 and 5 days after the incident. Drug paraphernalia from the scene was obtained by the laboratory through collaboration with local law enforcement. Drug paraphernalia was initially tested in the laboratory and after obtaining the results, the antemortem and postmortem specimens were tested identifying mitragynine and U‐47700, among other drugs. These results indicate the value in obtaining and testing drug paraphernalia, and the value of testing antemortem specimens even in the event of a delay.