Question

31.

A medical examiner is assessing a body and finds evidence of a dangerous drug in their bloodstream. Upon looking at the patient’s mouth and throat, he sees no evidence of burns or damage. The patient’s stomach contents do not show any levels of the drug. There are no red rashes or burn marks on the body. What else might the medical examiner look for in order to ascertain the source of the poison?


He might want to examine the patient’s last meal in case it was ingested.


He might take a swab of the patient’s tongue to see if the drug is present.


He might ask to see the patient’s clothes in case the drug was absorbed.


He might look for a pinprick that would indicate an injection site.

Answer 1

The medical examiner, when suspecting drug poisoning without signs of ingestion, should look for a pinprick to suggest injection as the route of administration. The absence of mouth, throat, and stomach signs points to methods bypassing these areas, with injection being a likely source.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a medical examiner finds evidence of a dangerous drug in a deceased individual's bloodstream but no signs of burns, damage in the mouth and throat, drug levels in the stomach, or external marks on the body, they must consider alternative methods of drug entry into the body. Considering the lack of physical marks associated with oral intake or external contact, the examiner should look for more inconspicuous signs such as a pinprick which could indicate the source of the poison was from an injection. This method of delivery bypasses the digestive system and can introduce substances directly into the bloodstream. The absence of physical damage in the oral and stomach areas reinforces the possibility of injection as the method of delivery. Additionally, the medical examiner might also examine the deceased's clothing for evidence of the drug, as certain drugs can be absorbed through the skin or injected through clothing without leaving visible marks on the body.