MEDICO-LEGAL

ASPECT OF
POISONING

Poison
A substance capable of destroying
life, either by chemical action on
body tissues or physiologically by
systemic absorption
Applied or administered with the
intention to kill
Essential element in law: Intent in
administration
The quantity doesnt affect
culpability, nor is the law concerned
with the quantity in which the
substance acts.

Toxicological analysis is not

confined to the stomach because:
1) The GI tract is only one of the means of
entry.
2) The poison might have passed out of the
stomach after significant period of time
has elapsed from ingestion to death.
3) Poison could have been introduced postmortem to conceal the real cause of death.
4) There must be a demonstration of
absorption of the poisonous agent except
in usage of strong corrosive agent.

Toxicological analysis must be done

BEFORE Embalming &

Putrefaction.

Recommended Organs to be Saved

for Suspicious Poisoning
Poison to be Tested
1. Arsenic (Acute Poisoning)

Organs to be Submited
Liver, kidney, stomach contents

2. Arsenic (Chronic Poisioning) Liver, urine, hair

3. Alcohol

Blood, liver, kidney, urine, brain

4. Cyanide or HCN

Stomach and liver

5. Carbon Monoxide

Blood placed in sealed container

6. Alkali

Stomach and contents, esophagus

7. Morphine & other alkaloids

Stomach and contents, liver, urine

8. Barbiturates

Brain, liver, kidney, urine

9. Phosporus

Stomach, liver, kidney

10. Lead

Kidney, liver, bone

11. Phenol

Liver, kidney, stomach

12. Pesticide

Stomach and contents, liver, blood

13. Antibiotic

Liver, blood

14. Kerosene, gasoline

Brain, liver, lungs, blood

Circumstances Affecting Action

of Poison:
1) Method of administration
2) Idiosyncrasy
3) Age
4) Habit
5) Dose
Fatal Dose smallest dose known to
cause death.

6) State of the Stomach and

Kidneys

S/Sx to suspect poisoning:

1) Sx appear suddenly
2) Sx appear at the state of health
3) Sx appear after taking food/medicine
4) Sx occur at the same time for several
persons who partake the food/drug at
the same time
5) Sx are getting severe or steadily
improving
6) Detection can be done on:
Food taken
Container
Vomitus
Excretions

Failure to detect poison

does not show that the
substance is absent.

To confirm suspicion of poisoning:

1) Obtain information from the

victim, family members, or
police and peace officers.
2) Obtain sample of the vomitus,
urine, and other bodily
discharges for analysis.
3) Observe the pt for other
developments of the symptoms
and progress of the condition.
4) Request a fellow physician to
assist and observe the pt if
necessary.

In case of Poisoning, the medical

witness must answer the ff:
1) What is the actual cause of death?

2) Why is the death attributable to

poisoning rather than to disease?
3) What is the maximum fatal dose of
the poison of the poison alleged to
have caused the death?
4) If the actual symptoms do not
resemble the expected symptoms,
what explanation can he give?
5) Was the dose taken by the victim
necessarily fatal?

To answer the above questions, the

physician must know & report on the ff:
1) History and Symptoms During life:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)
i)
j)
k)

History of any previous suicidal attempts

History of his mental condition
History of business, marital, and social failures
Presence of persons having grudge against him
Possible source of the poison
Time of actual administration of the poison
Nature and actual time of occurrence of the
symptoms
Order of occurrence of symptoms
If the victim died, note the exact time of death
and the period of time from ingestion to death.
Inquire on the presence of vomitus, urine &
other bodily discharges for analysis.
Date, time, place where the victim was last
seen alive.

To answer the above questions, the

physician must know & report on the ff:

2) Post-mortem Examination
a) External Post-Mortem Examination
b) Internal PostMortem Examination

Classification of Poisons:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)

Corrosives
Irritants
Narcotics
Depressants
Poisons w/ are Exito-Motor in action
Poisnous & Irrespirable Gases
Contact Poisons
Vulnerants

Food Poisoning
State of ill-health resulting
from food which has some
abnormal or noxious content.

Botulism poisoning due to

ingestion of food stored and
prepared in unsatisfactory
conditions and eaten without
cooking.

Laws on Poisons and Other

Poisonous Substances in the
Philippines

1) Provisions Relative to
Dispensing of Violent Poisons
(Sec. 755, Revised
Administrative Code)
2) Provisions Relative to
Dispensing of Less Violent
Poisons (Sec. 756, Revised
Administrative Code)
3) Receptacle for Poisonous
Drugs (Sec. 756, Revised
Administrative Code)