NCJ Number
166788
Journal
Canadian Society of Forensic Science Volume: 29 Issue: 2 Dated: (June 1996) Pages: 73-76
Date Published
1996
Length
4 pages
Annotation
A case is presented in which a toxicological analysis conducted in one laboratory was important for the proper interpretation of postmortem toxicology findings in the same person, in a different laboratory, 7 months later.
Abstract
The first incident involved a minor traffic accident. The person's blood analysis indicated a severe meprobamate intoxication; the blood concentration was 98 milligrams per liter. The second incident involved a fatal house fire. The woman was found dead in her bedroom. The fire appeared to have started at the head of the bed and was probably caused by careless smoking. Knowledge of the first toxicological investigation and circumstances surrounding the matter aided the interpretation of the postmortem toxicology findings. The findings of the two analyses indicated that the very high blood meprobamate concentrations probably resulted from chronic abuse of the drug and not from a suicidal overdose. Table and 9 references (Author abstract modified)