This book teaches you how to process and litigate cases that involve alcohol.
The medicolegal aspects of alcohol is a complex topic because there are so many different components in cases involving drinking drivers. For this reason, this clear and concise publication is designed to fill your need for an authoritative text on various scientific and legal aspects of alcohol determination in biological specimens.
Ideal for use by attorneys, physicians, forensic and clinical laboratory personnel involved with alcohol litigation, and to all those with a scientific curiosity about this most common social intoxicant. Prepared by a distinguished group of forensic specialists, this book contains chapters devoted to chemistry, pharmacology and toxicology of alcohol, disposition, fluid and tissue analysis, postmortem specimens, breath analysis, instrumentation, performance and epidemiologicstudies, the expert witness and much more.
Topics Covered
Chemistry of alcoholic beverages
Pharmacology and toxicology of ethyl alcohol
Disposition of alcohol in man
Biochemistry and physiology of alcohol; applications to forensic science and toxicology
Blood, urine, and other fluid and tissue specimens for alcohol analysis
Analysis for alcohol in postmortem specimens
Breath as a specimen for analysis for ethanol and other low molecular weight alcohols
Methods for breath analysis
Methods for fluid analysis: colormetric and instrumental
Quality assurance
Collection and storage of specimens for alcohol analysis
Report of laboratory findings
Epidemiologic basis of alcohol-induced psychomotor performance impairment (PMPI)
Laboratory and field testing: basis of alcohol-induced psychomotor performance impairment (PMPI)
Alcohol and the law: the legal framework of scientific evidence and expert testimony
Prosecution of driving under the Influence cases
Defense of driving under the influence cases
The expert witness
Alcohol testing in the workplace
Computer tools for body alcohol evaluation
Appendix: Federal Rules of Evidence and Criminal Procedure relating to expert testimony
