Course: Medical, Forensic and Regulatory Toxicology

 

Aim of the course:

 

The aim of the course is to introduce participants to medical, forensic, and regulatory toxicology. The course will focus on the recognition and treatment of intoxica­tions. Much attention will be paid to the daily practice of medical and forensic toxicology. Basic skills for expert witnesses giving evidence in court will be learned.

Most if not all toxicologists will touch upon regulatory issues sooner or later in their career. Basic knowledge of legal principles in common law is, therefore, essential for toxicology registrars. Knowledge on laws pertaining to pharmaceuticals and other chemicals should be acquired.

 

 

Content of the course

 

Many aspects of human intoxications will be dealt with during a series of lectures, demonstrations and tutorials. The main themes of the course are: acute and chronic intoxications, incidents caused by the release of toxic agents, forensic and regulatory toxicology.

The course will extensively cover the specific diagnosis and treatment of acutely or chronically intoxicated patients. In view of the nature of the discipline, much attention will be paid to proper organization, communication and management of incidents caused by the release of toxic agents, and furnishing the information for organizations and individuals involved in the diagnosis and treatment of groups of persons/patients, who have been exposed to toxic agents. In this framework, aspects of terrorist attacks and the role of a Poisons Information Centre will also be dealt with.

Forensic toxicology involves toxicological studies in connection with (preliminary) legal investigations. These studies are carried out to clarify whether individuals have been intoxicated with certain substances and whether this can explain e.g. death or effects on driving or behavior. All this is aimed to explore whether a crime has taken place and answering the questions 'how' and 'by whom'. The possible cause(s) of the intoxication needs to be evaluated and proven. This requires good communication and cooperation between forensic toxicologists, medical/clinical toxicologists, municipal coroners, forensic pathologists, public prosecutors and lawyers.

 

 

List of subjects

 

Acute intoxications:

-   General approach to intoxicated patients: diagnosis and treatment

-   acute occupational intoxications

-   cases of acute intoxicati­ons

-   analytical toxicological interpretation

 

Chronic intoxications:

-   Environmental exposure

-   risk assessment

 

Incident response:

-   Emergency response service following release of toxic agents

-   terrorist attacks

-   environ­mental incidents

-   role of poisons information centers

 

Forensic toxicology:

-   Legal aspects

-   sampling strategies

-   role of the coroner

-   role of the forensic pathologist

-   role of the public prosecutor

-  requirements for analyses and analysis strategy

-   interpretation of clinical effects

-   cases (e.g. drunk-driving, illegal drugs, workplace testing)

-  guidelines for the toxicologist-expert witness: will be practiced in a (fake) court case.

 

Regulatory toxicology:

-   Legal and ethical aspects of experimentation in humans and animals.

-   controlled substances legislation

-   traffic legislation and the toxicologist

-   regulatory policies of agrochemicals, industrial chemicals, and pharmaceuticals

-   product liability

-   REACH

 

 

Examination

 

At the end of the course, there will be a written examination and a verbal evaluation.

 

Lecturers

 

Prof. dr. J. Meulenbelt, National Poisons Information Centre, IRAS, and UMC Utrecht, course leader

Dr. K.J. Lusthof, Netherlands Forensic Institute,

Drs. I de Vries, National Poisons Information Centre

Drs. W. Best, Health Care Inspectorate The Hague

Dr. B.J. Blaauboer, IRAS, Utrecht University

Dr.ir. P. C. Bragt, Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, The Hague

Dr C.L.J. Braun, Akzo Nobel, Amersfoort

Prof.dr. A.P.A. Broeders, Maastricht University

Dr. Th. Helder, Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, The Hague

Prof.mr. J.F. Nijboer, Leiden University

Prof. Dr. F.A. de Wolff, emeritus

 

And staff of:

1.         National Poisons Information Centre (RIVM)

2.         Several Centres of the RIVM

2.         IC-division and Julius Centre (UMC Utrecht)

3.         Netherlands Forensic Institute

4.         Regional Office Arnhem of the Public Prosecution Service

 

Duration:          10 working days

 

Period:             01-12 November 2010

 

Fee:                  € 2,000.- (PhD students may apply for the reduced rate of € 500.=)

 

Location:          Utrecht University Hospital (location AZU)

                        Heidelberglaan 100, de Uithof, 3584 CX Utrecht