Forensic Medicine and Toxicology is vast topic which is covered as one of the Forensic Science courses. Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, is basically covered under two sections. First section is comprised of Forensic Medicine, which deals with the techniques applied in medical science for the purpose of law; whereas second section deals completely with the Toxicology, as the name suggests, Toxicology is all about the detection, isolation and the symptoms produced by a particular poison/toxin on a living being.
The medical science is of great help in assisting court proceedings in various criminal cases. Forensic Medicine deals with the application of the techniques used in Medical Science, for the purpose of proper legal proceedings. The topics that students will be taught under this section are: the definition and types of Death as stated under law, the early and late stages of death, and an in-depth study of various phenomena causing death as homicide, suicide, malnutrition, disease, starvation, dehydration and accidents. The manner of death and the deceased’s physical conditions vary from case to case. The possible signs and symptoms present in every case is separately taught to the students, explaining them the mechanism responsible for the specific condition. The difference between wound and injury in terms of law is explained, the general differences between wounds as abrasions, lacerations, contusions, avulsions, stab wounds, chop wounds and injuries caused due to firearms, and their medico-legal aspects.
The complex topics as rape and other sexual offences, sexual perversions, virginity, pregnancy and criminal abortion are also main concerns of this subject. The infant and child death, its viability, the difference between live birth, still birth, dead born along with Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and child abuse are also a few chief topics that are included in the course structure. Along with a systematic and elaborative theoretical explanations, students would be imparted a practical session by taking them to an autopsy visit, so that they get hold of the significance and utility of autopsy in cases related to unnatural death. An autopsy is an external as well as internal examination performed on a corpse to determine certain facts as to know the cause of death, manner of death, time since death and to evaluate the presence of any disease or injury that may have led to the death.
The second section of this course includes a descriptive study of Toxicology. In simple words, Toxicology may be defined as the study of poisons. In the course modules, students would be guided as how to pack viscera, their analysis process and submission of the complete analysis as report in the court. In toxicology, the students are familiarized with the general characteristics of various poisons, the toxic principle present in them, their mechanism of action, their fatal period and fatal dose, the signs and symptoms associated with each poison, the post-mortem appearances associated with them, their medico-legal aspects, and lastly their isolation and detection techniques.
Poisons, being very vast subject, is broadly classified as Corrosive Poisons, Metallic Poisons, Corrosive Poisons, Insecticides, Pesticides, Plant Poisons, Animal Poisons, Somniferous Poisons, Inebriants and Miscellaneous. Under each topic, students are taught about the common poisons encountered under each heading.
Module-1 Forensic Medicine and Court Procedures
This module is framed to make the students understand what actually Forensic Medicine is all about. This module would help students gather information and use of application of medical techniques in the legal proceedings. Through this module, students would be made aware of the prominence of medical certification, medical reports and dying declaration.
Module-2 Death and Medico Legal Autopsy
The detailed study of Death through a legal perspective, along with the facts related to it is of great importance in cases related to the unnatural death, be it homicide, suicide, accident or a traumatic violent act. It’s the chief concern of the Investigator and the Medical Practitioner to reveal every fact that is associated with the death, in order to make sure no fact goes unseen. Students would be acquainted with the early and late stages of death and their significance in determining various factors as time since death, the plausible factors present during the death and many more.
Module-3 Personal Identification
In this module, the importance of Personal Identification would be taught to the students. The minute details as scars, moles, tattoos are of great help in establishing the identity of an unclaimed or unknown body. The personal items as rosary beads, sacred thread, mangalsutras etc. also can aid a lot in establishing identity.
Module-4 Infant Death
Infant Death, as the name signifies will be dealing with various types of infant and childhood deaths as determination of age of fetus, live birth, still birth, dead born, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), child labor and the significance of the medico-legal aspects of precipitate labor.
Module-5 Examination of Body Fluids
This module focusses on importance of examination of bodily fluids from a forensic perspective. The importance of recognition, detection, and examination of bodily fluids as semen, saliva, urine, vaginal fluid and blood is of great use in a sequential forensic investigations.
Module-6 Forensic Psychiatry
Forensic Psychiatry is one of the broadly emerging trends of Forensic Science. The use and application of the science of Psychiatry, in order to assess and determine the degree of negativity in an individual’s personality. With the implementation of psychiatric techniques and science of psychology, the students will be taught as how to observe and analyze the personality traits of the individuals with criminal minds.
Module-7 Medical Jurisprudence
The Definition of various Medical Councils as Central and State Medical Councils along with their functions and disciplinary control along with the rights and duties of a registered medical practitioner are the primary concerns. The cases relating to civil and criminal medical negligence would also be included under the same.
Module-8 Forensic Toxicology
In this module, the students will be introduced with Forensic Toxicology, where they will get an opportunity to acquaint themselves with Toxicology, its significance in Forensic Science, general aspects of poisoning, clinical features, autopsy appearances of various poison, dispatch and preservation of viscera and their medico-legal significances.
The impact of poisons, poisoning and their nature is a vast topic of discussion in Forensic Medicine and Toxicology. Under this module, students will get to explore commonly encountered poisons under various categories as Metallic Poisons, Corrosive Poisons, Animal Poisons, Deliriant Poisons, Somniferous Poisons, Asphyxiates and Inebriant Poisons. Students will be taught individually about each poison under various sub-headings as general characteristics, principle toxin, action of mechanism, signs and symptoms, post-mortem appearances and medico-legal significance. This module will let the students explore the limits and enrich their knowledge to the verge.
Module-10 Assist Observe
Under this module, students would be taught about the prominence of medical certificates, birth certificate, death certificate and dying declaration. Besides this, students would also be taught as to how to present oneself as an Expert Witness in a Court of Law. Age estimation from bones, dentitions etc. and examination of injuries/wounds will also be the key topics of discussion.
Module-11 Medical Jurisprudence
Under this module, students will be accustomed to the cases concerning the involvement of Medical Jurisprudence. Certain cases as cases pertaining to death, rape, paternity etc. may require a medical practitioner who may assist the court in determining the degree or extent of loss, damage or any other side-effect; so that after being governed properly court could give a justified verdict in favor of the party concerned. Medical malpractices, Organ transplantation, Immoral Trafficking are the major topics of concern in the prescribed module.
The evaluation process varies depending upon the course you enroll for, likewise: if you are enrolled for Certification, you will be allotted an assignment during the mid-session of the course, which you are deemed to complete within the month. Similar process is followed in Diploma. But in PG Diploma, after the completion of the assignment during the mid-sessions; a Project-work is assigned during the last quarter, which you have to complete in a month’s time.
The mode of examination will be online for the students enrolled either in online courses or in distance course. After the completion of the respective course duration, a username and password would be generated for all the enlisted students. The username and the password would be mailed to every student prior to the date allotted for the examination to be held, and accordingly they would be requested by the concerned authorities to check their mails, so that they could use the specified details in order to give their exams on our online examination portal on the allocated date and time.
Note: Every student will be given a username and password a month before the conducting of the exams for the demo-exams, so that they get to know every detail concerned with the online examination pattern.
The complete correction and evaluation takes about two weeks. After the evaluation process is finally done, the mark-sheets and certificates are posted on to the postal address of every student, but only after verifying their postal addresses as mentioned on the submitted application forms. Therefore, the students are always requested to mention their correct and complete address on their application form, in order to avoid further confusion and disappointment.
This collaborative training session is designed for online and distance students. The training would acquaint the students with a detailed practical sessions relating to Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, visit to autopsy would be one of the key practicals where the students would be exposed to the technique, use and significance of autopsy and analysis of viscera in the legal proceedings.
Module-1 Visit to Autopsy- This session is conducted for the students in order to make them more acquainted with the process of autopsy, its importance, its use in criminal and legal proceedings. The students would be taught as how to examine every minute detail of the corpse. The session will start with a thorough external examination of the body and would end on to the packing and dispatching of viscera to the respective laboratory for further analysis and examination. This course is of great use to the students, in order to make them more aware of the steps involved in a systematic analysis of the cadaver.
Module-2 Detection of commonly found Plant poisons- Under this section, students would be taught about the commonly found plant poisons as, Nerium odorum, Cerbera thevetia, Dhatura fastuosa, Calotropis gigantea, Strychnous-nux-vomica and Abrus precatorius. The students will be taught as which part of the plant is more toxic and how to isolate and detect the toxins practically. In this session, students will be permitted to practice their hands on various plant poisons.
Module-3 Analysis of wounds to ascertain their cause- Wounds and injuries are of great importance in assisting and determining the mode that had been used to inflict certain injury. Therefore, the students will be given a detailed description regarding each type of wound, the reason behind its cause, their medico-legal significance and the most important would be to differentiate between self-inflicted and fabricated wounds, as certain criminal cases involve such foul-play. Therefore, it’s the task of the Investigator to analyze every aspect, so that a justified opinion could be given.
Module-4 Working mechanism of Breathalyzer- Breathalyzer is an equipment, used to measure the blood alcohol content (BAC) with the help of breath sample. A simple oxidation and reduction process is involved in its working, which would be taught to the students in the respective training session. This technique is commonly employed by the police officials all around the world to control drink and drive accidents.
DURATION OF TRAINING
The duration scheduled for the training is one month during the summer vacations.
ADVANTAGES OF TRAINING
>> The training session specially focusses to bring together online and distance students to enhance their knowledge.
>> Training will provide you the practical knowledge and opportunities to investigate the legal cases.
>> The training session of the course FSP 301 Forensic Medicine & Toxicology course familiarize you to brief knowledge of course in classroom assembly.
>> Online and distance students attend to plenary training session and case studies, and learn more about the Forensic Medicine & Toxicology.
>> Upon completing this training session, you should be able to develop your potential in an analytical manner.
FEE FOR TRAINING
The training would be payable for online and distance learning students. But they already being enrolled as students, therefore they can avail an add-on advantage of earning 15% scholarship on their respective course fee.
After the successful completion of one month training, a valedictory function is organized on the last day where students are distributed the certificate and a farewell treat is arranged for the students from the Organization.
Outline towards Forensic Toxicologist career paths
Now a days Forensic Science stands in very broad manner with multiple sub-fields. Forensic Medicine and Toxicology is one of the chief sub-disciplines of Forensic Science, which offers a myriad career opportunities to the keen aspirants. After a thorough theoretical and practical sessions provided under this course, the student would be able to gain the capability to analyze the viscera, determine the manner and cause of death. After completing this course, a student has innumerable options for grooming one’s career, some of them are listed below:
>> Student can be appointed as a Forensic Toxicologist in the Central Forensic Science Laboratories.
>> Student can also be appointed as Toxicologist in the State Forensic Labs.
>> Student can be appointed as a faculty/ trainer of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology in the various institutes offering Forensic Science courses as undergraduate and master’s programme.
>> With immense knowledge of Chemistry, one could also be appointed as Toxicologist in Environment Conservation Sections of Central as well as State Governments.
>> One can also be appointed as Pharmacologist or Drug-Analyst in various Pharmaceutical companies.
Educational Qualification to set a career in Forensic Toxicologist
First level course of the Forensic Medicine & Toxicology is a Certification Programme. In order to opt for this course one must be of Science background. Forensic Medicine & Toxicology courses are also available for the Science background graduate level students who are interested to start their career from master level programme in the respective investigating science. For those students, who are opting for their Doctorate degree can choose any of the poisons and the health hazards they may cause, or any other such related topic for their further research and study.
Law students and professionals both can do Certification, Diploma Course and P.G. Diploma course offered in Forensic Science to elevate their legal knowledge.
Sectors in Forensic Medicine & Toxicology
Job prospects for Forensic Medicine are in Government Sectors, as Medical Practitioner, and Forensic labs; Government and Private Laboratories.
Alternate job besides working in a Laboratory is teaching with abundant opportunity to upheld one’s career by imparting education. One can also work in Private Pharmaceutical firms as Toxicologist or Pharmacologist.
1. What is Forensic Medicine & Toxicology?
In the course Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, the students will be acquainted with importance of medical science and techniques, along with a detailed information of Toxicology in criminal investigation procedures.
2. What is the course content of FSP 301?
The course Forensic Medicine & Toxicology (FSP 301) includes all the details regarding the significance of forensic medicine and toxicology in criminal investigations. Course will introduce you to interactive training session and practicals on the scientific and practical methods involved in a proper analysis of visceral organs.
For more details click on- http://www.sifs.in/prospectus/FSP-301-forensic-medicine-and-toxicology.pdf
3. What is the course duration of Certificate, Diploma and PG Diploma courses?
All online and distance courses are divided into three certifications i.e. Certificate course for three months, Diploma course for six months and PG Diploma for one year.
4. What qualification is required to be eligible for the above-mentioned courses?
If you are looking for Certificate and Diploma courses, you must have completed your 10+2 or appearing in any discipline from Recognized Board/ School and for PG Diploma course graduation will be required. In the admission process, self-attested mark-sheets and certificates of the previous school/college and transfer certificate along with 2 passport size photographs will be required from the student.
5. Where can I register for distance or online education courses?
We provide online application form for all online or distance students. To download application, form click on- http://www.sifs.in/application-form.pdf
6. When will I receive my study materials, books etc.?
After the completion of your admission process and payment of fee, the students enrolled for online courses will receive a username and password to access e-library within 7-10 working days through mail on their mail id which is mentioned on the application form; whereas distance education students will receive hardcopy of related course materials on the mentioned address by courier or post within 15 working days.
7. What about exams and course credits?
In the last month of your course, we will conduct your online exam. All details regarding your exam will sent to you on the mail id provided by you and the course credits differs according to course code and divided into assignment, project and exam.
For more detail please click on- www.sifs.in/ims
8. How do I get my certificate/mark-sheet, when I have completed my exams?
You will receive your mark-sheet and certificate within a month on your mentioned address by courier or post.
9. What is the difference between online and distance education? Which is the best mode of education?
Both modes of education are good. The only difference between online and distance education is distance education students will get hardcopy material related to their course code, and so the distance learning students will pay Rs. 1000 more as compared to online education students. An extra amount is charged for distance learning students, as the postal charges are included in the course fee.
10. Where do I find out what courses are being offered distance or online?
We provide all informations on the website- www.sifs.in
11. Although my degree is in an unrelated field of study, I have taken quite a few science courses. Am I eligible to apply?
Yes. You are eligible for this Forensic Medicine & Toxicology (FSP 301), if you have completed or if you are pursuing your 10+2 or graduation in any discipline from a Recognized Board/ School/ College.
12. What is the scope and career of forensic education and related courses?
Forensic Science offers a wide range of opportunity to the students aspiring to make their careers as Forensic Scientists and Investigators. With a sense of keen observation and the ability of seeing the unseen are a few traits that would promise the aspiring students to make a colorful career in the wonderful arena of Forensic.
13. Should I pay any extra fee for examination, study materials etc.?
No. Your course fee includes Study materials, Books, Notes, I-Card, Examination Fee. You are not required to pay any extra amount, but in some cases- additional taxes / fees may apply. If you are living out of India and interested in printed notes and books, then you have to pay shipping/postal charges extra. Summer training and practical sessions will be payable for online and distance students with 15% scholarship.
14. What will I get after joining distance course?
You will get User-id and password to access e-library within 7-10 working days. Study materials, notes and books related to your course and id-card will be sent on the address mentioned by you, either by courier or post within 15 working days.
15. How can I pay my course fee by credit card in USD?
Indian Students may use Universal Currency Converter from http://www.xe.com/ucc/ to pay fee in other currencies, or International students visit this link- http://www.sifs.in/onlinefee.php to check out the fee structure. You can pay your course fee from here- http://www.sifs.org.in/payment (Students enrolled for courses having course duration more than 6 months can pay their Course Fee in maximum two instalments, but Rs. 2000 will be charged extra.)
16. Why is training important?
Training is a vital part of online and distance students. It is intended to provide students with the opportunity to place theories into practicals. It is also very helpful to develop their skills that support professional life by preparing and encouraging them to apply their abilities and knowledge acquired through study in a work later on. So, even before the students completed their course they are trained to be job-ready, therefore increasing the student’s employment prospects.
17. What is the best route to prepare for a career as a forensic scientist?
SIFS INDIA provides professional course Forensic Medicine & Toxicology (FSP 301) to acquire knowledge from the basics. The course interest attribute to up showing television shows focused on law enforcement and forensics. Subject offers the opportunity to grow your career in many sub disciples.
18. I am interested in a career in this field. Where do I start?
In order to initiate a career into this field, you should have a zeal and urge to unveil the veiled. A certificate, diploma and PG diploma course would help you groom your knowledge theoretically as well as practically, thereby ensuring a safe and secure career.
19. Where will I work?
You may avail opportunities as a medical Practitioner in the central as well as state hospitals. You can also practice as a pharmacologist or toxicologist in various Pharmaceutical firms.
20. What are the other specialized forensic science careers can be found outside the crime laboratory?
Other than working in the Crime Laboratory, you can also be appointed as a Crime Scene Investigator in Police Stations or you can also be appointed as an Investigator for the Mobile Forensic Laboratory.
A 35 year-old male presents because of numbness and tingling of his hands and feet, due to Arsenic poisoning.
History of present illness: His symptoms began approximately 3 months ago, with gradual onset of numbness and tingling in his toes and fingertips, progressing over weeks to involve the feet and hands in a symmetric "stocking-glove" pattern. About 1 month ago he had an episode of nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, which resolved after 3 days. In the past 2 to 3 weeks, the tingling has taken on a progressively painful, burning quality and he has noted weakness in gripping tools.
Past medical history: non-contributory. Family history is unremarkable; his wife, parents, and two younger brothers are in good health.
Social history: The patient has been a carpenter since completing high school 17 years ago. For the last 10 years, he has lived in a rural, wooded area in a home he built in the wooded foothills of the Cascade Range in Northwest Washington. Approximately 10 months ago, he married and moved with his wife, an elementary school teacher, into a newly built home on an adjacent parcel of land. The patient consumes 1 to 2 alcoholic drinks a week and quit smoking 2 years ago after a 15 pack/year history. He takes 1 multivitamin a day, but no other supplements or prescription medications.
Review of Systems: He notes episodes of increased sweating in the last 3 months.
Physical Examination: Vital signs were temperature 37. 5 degrees C; pulse 60 and regular; respirations 12; BP 124/76.
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