Testimony of Dr. Jonathan Privette (forensic pathologist) and Dr. Justin Brower (forensic toxicologist) re: fentanyl overdose, mixing of fentanyl and cocaine
Death by Distribution
Medicolegal Death Investigation: Terms and Definitions
Organization of Scientific Area Committee (OSAC) ASB Approved Mar. 2025. Defines relevant terms for the discipline.
Medicolegal Death Investigation: Terms and DefinitionsRead More
What records are available in a death investigation case blog post
Forensic Resources blog post regarding OCME discovery by Sarah Olson and Dr. Christena Roberts. Describes the items provided through a routine discovery request and additional items from the Medical Examiner file that can be obtained through a subpoena or court order. Drafted in Jan. 2020.
What records are available in a death investigation case blog postRead More
Defending Death by Distribution Cases Blog Post
UNC School of Government Criminal Law Blog Post discussing actual and proximate causation, intervening causes, multiple drug cases, pre-existing conditions, and joint users by Phil Dixon. Published in Jan. 2020.
Defending Death by Distribution Cases Checklist
by Cynthia Hernandez & Taleed El-Sabawi, JD, PhD This checklist has been adapted from the “Drug-Induced Homicide Defense Toolkit” by Beety, et al., and the University of North Carolina School of Government blog post, “Defending Death by Distribution Cases”, by Phil Dixon. This checklist is meant to help criminal defense attorneys identify possible defenses to …
Recommendations for the Investigation, Diagnosis, and Certification of Deaths Related to Opioid and Other Drugs
Position paper which provides best practices for death scene investigation, autopsy, toxicology, and determining cause of death in overdose cases
Drug-Induced Homicide Defense Toolkit
The Health In Justice Action Lab of the Northeastern University School of Law has created a toolkit for attorneys defending death by distribution of drugs. The toolkit includes recent favorable caselaw and links to the amicus curiae briefs filed by the Action Lab and its partners that were successful in those cases; an expanded section …
ANSI/ASB Best Practice Recommendation 037: Guidelines for Opinions and Testimony in Forensic Toxicology
Amicus Brief in Commonwealth v. Carrillo
Addresses strict liability crime for drug sharers created by Massachusetts death by distribution statute and public health implications of drug induced homicide statutes. By MA Public Counsel Services and Health in Justice Action Lab, MA Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Filed in Jan. 2019.
Vital Statistics Reference Guidance, Number 2
Addresses the complexity of drug toxicity deaths and the challenging relationship between the existing diseases and the sequence in which diseases or injuries. Underscores the need for a thorough medical and death scene investigation.
National Academy of Sciences Report
See pp. 241-268 for the National Research Council’s assessment of the disciplines of forensic pathology and death investigation.