NCJ Number
117399
Journal
Canadian Society of Forensic Science Journal Volume: 21 Issue: 4 Dated: (December 1988) Pages: 163-167
Date Published
1988
Length
5 pages
Annotation
Forensic scientists should approach promising new technology with a certain amount of skepticism and the recognition that scientific instruments cannot overcome personal deficiencies and poor analytical technique to produce irrefutable data that reflect reality.
Abstract
In addition, forensic scientists must not sacrifice the slightest scientific integrity in justification of more analyses per hour or an impressive printout. They need to be aware that new laboratory technology has had a largely positive influence, but it is at the dangerous expense of intellectual capacity to interpret the data. Thus, for example, new analytical tools for forensic toxicology provide data that scientists cannot use, because it renders obsolete the reference databases and historical pharmacokinetic concepts. Therefore, scientists must realize that no single answer exists to the question of complex technology in scientific technology, instead of joining the nearly universal idolatry of computer technology, they should insist on the virtue and uniqueness of the human brain.