[Judicial expertise in blood alcohol determination and toxicological analysis]

Abstract

Blood alcohol determination or toxicological expert evaluation are a part of the judicial inquiry. They are devoted to authorized professionals registrated by the court of appeal and they are obliged to perform themselves the analysis. They bind the civil and penal liability of the professionals who are designated. After a reapparaisal of the French legislation concerning blood alcohol levels, the authors review the totality of problems resulting from the interpretation of results as well as the relationship to judicial authorities: expert nomination procedure, professional criterions, legal points, daily practice. Among usual questions from magistrates and policemen, the expert has to estimate the quantity of alcohol taken by an individual, evaluate the blood ethanol content of a subject when the blood collection is late, calculate blood ethanol from breath alcohol analysis. For forensic toxicology, professional criterions and legal aspects are also touched on.