May 7, 2001 – For the last two years, the Virgin Islands has been unable to conduct complete autopsies because no money was budgeted for toxicology analysis.
Medical Examiner Francesco Landron said his office "handles between 75 and 100 autopsies a year." That includes automobile and other accidents, drownings, suicides, homicides, and any unexplained deaths.
A toxicology test may look for any one or combination of foreign substances in the victim's system, such as prescription medicines, illegal drugs, alcohol or poison.
Landron said some medical examiners conduct toxicology tests in all cases, but "that's the extreme." However, "they should be routine in certain types of cases," he said. "The bottom line is a medical examiner's office can't function without toxicology."
Landron has been medical examiner since 1994. When he started, he was able to send samples to a forensic laboratory on the mainland for toxicology analysis. The cost ranged from $150 to $300 depending on the type of testing. Using even the higher number, the annual cost wouldn't be more than $33,000.
"There's no excuse for them (the government) not to be able to come up with the money," Landron said. "In the long run, it could cost more" not to have the test, he said.
Insurance companies are interested in toxicology results in accident cases, he said, and they can be critical in criminal investigation and prosecution proceedings.
Attorney General Iver Stridiron agreed Monday with Landron on the importance of the tests. "Apparently, it has not created a major problem yet," Stridiron said, "but it certainly can happen." He said he told administration financial officers that without money for toxicology "we're going to be hamstrung in prosecuting (some) cases."
Stridrion said he got a promise that $25,000 will be put in next year's budget for toxicology. Meanwhile, the Justice Department will pay out of a contingency fund for toxicology reports on an as-need basis.
He said the government does not have an outstanding balance with the forensic laboratory it has used in the past, but that apparently it is demanding payment up front.
Stridiron believes the government should pay the lab the full $25,000 budgeted next year and then draw down against it. He said he is working on a similar system with the mainland pharmacy that services the Corrections Bureau.
