Who is known as the “father of forensic toxicology”

Who is known as the “father of forensic toxicology”?           

a. Orfila          

b. Locard                             

c. Osborn         

d. Lattes

The correct answer and explanation is :

The correct answer is:
a. Orfila

Explanation:

Mathieu Orfila (1787–1853) is widely recognized as the “Father of Forensic Toxicology” due to his pioneering work in detecting poisons and their effects on the human body. Orfila was a Spanish-born French toxicologist and chemist who laid the foundation for forensic toxicology as a scientific discipline.

Orfila’s Contributions to Forensic Toxicology

1. Published Groundbreaking Work
   Orfila published his seminal book, Traité des poisons (1813), which provided a comprehensive study of toxic substances, their symptoms, detection methods, and effects on the human body. This work was instrumental in the development of forensic toxicology.
2. Established Systematic Testing of Poisons
   Before Orfila’s contributions, the detection of poisons was largely unreliable and based on subjective observations. He introduced systematic scientific methods for testing and identifying poisons in biological samples such as blood and tissue.
3. Used Experimental Chemistry in Legal Cases
   Orfila applied chemical analysis techniques to detect poisons in forensic investigations, setting a precedent for modern forensic toxicology. His work helped solve criminal cases involving poisoning, proving the importance of toxicology in the legal system.
4. Influenced Legal Medicine
   Orfila played a key role in demonstrating the importance of toxicological evidence in court cases. He was involved in the famous Lafarge poisoning case (1840), where his expertise helped prove that arsenic poisoning was the cause of death, setting a legal precedent.
5. Founded Forensic Toxicology as a Discipline
   His research and teaching at the University of Paris helped institutionalize forensic toxicology as an academic and investigative field, influencing future generations of toxicologists and forensic scientists.

Because of these contributions, Mathieu Orfila is credited as the “Father of Forensic Toxicology”, making him the correct answer to this question.