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Postgraduate Professional Education Catalogue for Certification as “Forensic Toxicologist GTFCh“

Appendix 1 of Postgraduate Professional Education Regulations “Forensic Toxicologist GTFCh“

Introduction

The applicant must acquire thorough specific knowledge, experience and skills in the area of forensic toxicology according to scientific and technical standards. Amongst others it is required
  • Independent furnishing of forensic-toxicological expert report under consideration of scientific standards and prevailing case law
  • Publishing independent scientific papers in acknowledged journals
  • Participating in postgraduate professional education arranged by the GTFCh
  • Participating in scientific events (workshops, conventions etc.) and, if necessary
  • Delivering oral expert opinions, particularly in criminal proceedings
The applicant may substantiate acquired knowledge, experience and skills by additional
  • Visits in other postgraduate professional education institutions
  • Participation in postgraduate professional education arranged by other institutions related to forensic toxicology (associations, chambers)
  • Conducting of own lectures and courses
  • Successful participation in postgraduate university courses or seminars in related topics
  • The applicant needs postgraduate professional and continuing education in the areas (postgraduate professional education modules) listed below:

Postgraduate Professional Education Modules

Basics of human biology

Basic knowledge of the function of the human body (anatomy, physiology, biochemistry)

Toxicology/Pharmacology

Toxicodynamics and toxicokinetics / pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics
Structure, physical mechanism, spectrum of efficacy, adverse reaction, interaction, mode of application, toxicogenetics / pharmacogenetics xenobiotic metabolism, organ toxicology, toxicity tests, structure-response relationship

Forensic Toxicology

Post mortem toxicology
Definition of terms, conditions of effect of toxins, influence of endogenic and exogenic factors, post mortem diagnostic findings in poisoning, principles of inquest, sampling in suspicion of poisoning, exhumation, thanatochemistry, metals, non-metal inorganic poisons, organic poisons, legal aspects

Alcohol

Backward calculation, law, alcohol consumption after the critical incident and prior to blood sampling

Other substances affecting the central nervous system

Pharmacokinetics of the most important intoxicating substances, intoxicating substances in road traffic, aspects of medicine in road traffic, sampling, determination of chronic abuse, backward calculations, legal matters, intoxication versus forensic psychopathology.
Substances not affecting the central nervous system
Analyses and appraisal of samples taken from living humans

Basics of forensic genetics

Basics of forensic chemistry

Analysis of illicit drugs
Analysis of other non-biological seizures

Quality management

Accreditation
Certification

Clinical Toxicology

Epidemiology of acute poisoning
Legal aspects in diagnostics and treatment of poisoning
Measures taken in acute poisoning
Differential diagnosis and cardinal symptoms in poisoning
Therapy of acute poisoning
Symptoms of the most frequent types of poisoning, therapeutic methods, antidotes

Clinical chemistry

Toxicologically relevant parameters

Basics of pharmacy

Legislation

Relevant laws and regulations
Narcotics law, road traffic law and criminal law (e.g. intoxication effects and criminal responsibility)
Rights and duties of experts
Current court judgements passed

Analytical toxicology

Material of investigation
Standard matrices
Alternative matrices (e.g. hairs, saliva, tissue samples)
Pre-analytical aspects
Sampling and storage
Analytics
Sample preparation
Qualitative and quantitative analysis procedures incl. validation
Quality assurance
Method development
Post analytical aspects
Sample storage

Bio statistics

Forensic expertise

Plausibility of forensic-toxicological results
Interpretation of forensic-toxicological results, e.g. consideration of problem, limit values
Expert opinion on records